Wrong-way detection system helps prevent potential crashes on I-91 in North Haven – NBC Connecticut

The state’s new wrong-way detection system helped prevent a potential accident in North Haven on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, North Haven Police posted on Facebook that an accident on I-91 was prevented by Connecticut’s wrong-way warning signs.

Josh Morgan, communications director for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said the signs have helped prevent 55 deaths in the past year, including last night’s.

According to police, a driver got lost and took an exit off I-91 in the wrong direction.

“Yesterday there was this driver who corrected the situation himself. A life or several lives were saved because he corrected the situation himself and brought the ramp back down,” Morgan said.

Morgan added that the state has received $40,000,000 to implement and install wrong-way detection, with more to come by 2025.

“There are currently more than 60 systems online. By the end of this year we will have more than 100 activated and by the end of 2025 there will be almost 200.”

A North Haven driver said the signs once helped him avoid an accident.

“This happened to me once on Whitney Avenue. I turned onto the parkway at Wilbur Cross, but too early because the entrance and exit ramps are next to each other. I drove maybe 50 feet and then realized I was going the wrong way.”

He said that even with the signs in place, it is easy for drivers to make a wrong turn.

“I could imagine that something like that happens because you know that someone is coming towards you when you turn and you can quickly make the wrong decision.”

Another driver said she thought it was a good investment that the government should continue to make.

“Anything that stops people from driving the wrong way on the highway would be helpful, so it makes a lot of sense to do that,” Amy Humphries said.