Not just another day in paradise, because we have another wrong-way driver case in Iowa. Unreal is how many people in Iowa would describe it, but for me after 3+ years of reading about wrong-way interstate drivers I understand the whys and so I accept it as inevitable. This is I believe is the 4^th case in less than a two-year time. Little old sparsely populated Iowa and here we go again.  Wow, this is getting serious. What’s going on out there? We are all on automatic pilot running on a treadmill, faster and faster and going nowhere but getting there fast.

I’ve been writing about these cases now for over three years, have reported on thousand’s of wrong-way events, collisions, accidents, deaths and whatever’s – have even come up with common threads as to what facts seem important. If you asked me three years ago how many wrong-way interstate accidents occurred I would have told you rarely, but that’s not true. They are far too common not just here in Iowa, but in every state in the union and across Europe. At the end of this blog I’ll again add my lists of common threads along with the most recent news reports. This isn’t all the most recent news reports. If you want to see how many wrong-way collisions there are follow these links to both the Verdict and the Edict.

Briefly, the latest one was in Warren County Friday morning on Highway 5 and involved a Chevy Tahoe SUV, a semi-truck and a motorcyclist. I couldn’t think of a worse mix of vehicles for a wrong-way collision. Welcome to Iowa, a surprising place to live. WHO covered the story.

FATAL CRASH: A wrong-way crash on Highway 5 Friday morning killed one person and seriously injured another

STORY LINK: http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-wrong-way-fatal-crash-042911,0,6250194.story

WHO Staff Writer 11:38 a.m. CDT, April 29, 2011 - Officials say the names of the people in the accident are not being released until family has been notified. Copyright © 2011, WHO-TV

NEWS ITEMS

Plano woman killed by wrong-way driver
Plano Star Courier
By Jessica Rush, jrush@acnpapers.com A Plano resident died in the hospital Monday after a wrong-way driver hit her vehicle in Grapevine Sunday night. The Grapevine Police Department has not released the name of the 61-year-old woman, but did say the ...

Wrong-Way Driver Involved in Head-On Crash in Hugo | KSTP TV ...
The State Patrol says the driver of a KIA Rio was driving the wrong way down the northbound lanes of Highway 61 around 7:30 a.m. A 1957 Chevy Belair driving ...

Wrong-Way Driver Involved in Head-On Crash in Hugo | KSTP TV ...
The State Patrol says the driver of a KIA Rio was driving the wrong way down the northbound lanes of Highway 61 around 7:30 a.m. A 1957 Chevy Belair driving ...

Wrong-Way Driver Involved in Head-On Crash in Hugo | KSTP TV ...
The State Patrol says the driver of a KIA Rio was driving the wrong way down the northbound lanes of Highway 61 around 7:30 a.m. A 1957 Chevy Belair driving ...

Plano woman injured by wrong-way driver
Plano Star Courier
By Jessica Rush, jrush@acnpapers.com A Plano resident remains in critical condition after a wrong-way driver hit her vehicle on State Highway 121 in Grapevine. The Grapevine Police Department has not released the name of the 61-year-old woman, ...

Wrexham driver sped wrong way down dual carriageway
Daily Post North Wales
by Our Correspondent, DPW West A DRINK driver, who sped the wrong way down a dual-carriageway in a bid to shake off pursuing police officers, was told yesterday it was a miracle no one had been killed or seriously injured. Jonathan Lee Jones, 31, ...

$100000 bail for driver in wrong-way crash in Rainier Valley
The Seattle Times
The female driver of the Honda Civic and her female passenger were treated by medics at the scene. Police later found Martinez-Reyes behind the wheel of his SUV, which was parked at the Atlantic City boat ramp, in the 9000 block of Seward Park Avenue ...

Police curb wrong-way driver on QEW
Niagara Falls Review
By Standard Staff, St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Region, Sun Media A driver headed the wrong way onto a QEW access in St. Catharines had the brakes put on him by the Niagara OPP's top cop. Staff Sgt. Jan Idzenga said he was about to go through an ...

Woman critically injured in Grapevine by wrong-way driver
WFAA
GRAPEVINE - Highway 121 is back open in Grapevine after a wrong-way crash shut it down for hours Monday morning. A Plano woman was critically injured when a wrong-way driver hit her car around 11 pm Sunday near Grapevine Parkway. ...

Drink driver's 'high speed' chase
BBC News
A drink driver drove the wrong way down a north Wales dual carriageway during a "dangerous, high speed" police chase, a court has heard. A judge at Mold Crown Court told Jonathan Lee Jones, 31, of Brynteg, Wrexham, it was a miracle no one had been ...

2 Staten Island women charged with drunk driving
SILive.com
By John M. Annese STATEN ISLAND, NY -- One drunken driver went the wrong way down a one-way street, then reversed when an officer saw her, police said. Another rear-ended a pickup truck and walked off, only to leave her pocketbook and ID behind in her ...

Car abandoned by driver during police chase hits house in Houma
Daily Journal
Patrol officers saw a car making a fast turn with tires squealing. They pursued as the car ran through stop signs and headed the wrong way down a one-way street. The driver jumped out and ran. The car ran into the porch. There were no injuries and ...

Wrong-Way Crash Injures 2 People In Grapevine « Wrong-Way Crash ...
By KTVTPhil
They are not sure where the wrong-way driver entered the highway, but a witness who was driving nearby is being questioned. Highway 121 in Grapevine was closed for several hours early Monday morning, but all lanes of traffic have since ...

Wrong-way driver arrested for DUI on I-40
Officials say Russell Neal Gibson, 44, of Louisville, was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes on I-40 near Interstate 640 at 1:11 a.m. Monday when he ...

Two Killed in Wrong-Way Driver Crash Downtown - San Diego 6
Head-on collision kills the wrong-way driver and another driver.

Wrong-Way Driver Involved in Head-On Crash in Hugo
KSTP.com
The State Patrol says the driver of a KIA Rio was driving the wrong way down the northbound lanes of Highway 61 around 7:30 am A 1957 Chevy Belair driving northbound swerved out of the way to avoid the KIA, but was swiped by it. ...

Abduction May Have Been Factor in Wrong-Way Freeway Crash, Renton Police Say
Patch.com
By Margaret Santjer | Email the author | April 17, 2011 Three people were hospitalized Sunday after a police chase sparked by a possible abduction ended in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 5, Renton Police said. A witness told police that two men forced ...

Wrong-way police chase on I-5 ends in crash
KING5.com
Three people are in the hospital following a possible abduction and high speed chase, which ended after a driver made a u-turn into oncoming I-5 traffic. It all started in Renton, where Kenny McKenzie was enjoying a break outside of his packaging plant ...

Coach stuck in Weymouth town centre
Dorset Echo
A COACH driver apparently confused by roadworks in Weymouth had to be helped after accidentally driving the wrong way into Weymouth town centre. Bemused daytrippers sat patiently as the Devon-based Royal Blues coach manoeuvred in the pedestrianised St ...

Driver smashes into cop car, then flees
phillyBurbs.com
... driven by a man later identified as Davis, heading eastbound on Route 332 at about 1:53 pm The officer attempted to stop the car, but Davis tried to get away, even briefly driving the wrong way on the off-ramp of I-95 north, police said. ...

Wrong way driver triggers deadly head-on crash on I-5 - San Diego ...
California Highway Patrol officers were still investigating why a motorist was driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 in downtown San Diego Saturday, ...

Wrong-Way Driver Involved in Head-On Crash in Hugo | KSTP TV ...
The State Patrol says the driver of a KIA Rio was driving the wrong way down the northbound lanes of Highway 61 around 7:30 a.m. A 1957 Chevy Belair driving ...

Wrong way driver crashes car on highway; dies at hospital
Before police could arrive the wrong way driver crashed head on into a semi on the south bound lanes of US 131 just north of 144th Avenue in Dorr Township. ...

Wrong Way Driver Involved in Deadly Downtown Crash
KGTV San Diego
No age or gender was released for the wrong-way driver, and the CHP did not say how the silver Honda Civic ended up going north in the southbound lane. The crash occurred next to Balboa Park, just south of Highway 163. The collision occurred around ...

76-year-old Naples man drove wrong way on I-75, state police say
Naples Daily News
By Naples Daily News staff report A 76-year-old Naples man may need to retake his driver's license examination after he drove the wrong way on Interstate 75 Friday night, Florida Highway Patrol reported. Francis H. Rushman was driving south on the ...

Drunk Driver Injures Security Guard
KFGO
A security guard was hurt when a wrong-way driver slammed head-on into his company car early this morning. A security guard was hurt when a wrong-way driver slammed head-on into his company car early this morning. Naomi Kosen, 24, of Fargo was arrested ...

Defense: marks mean Owens is innocent
KRQE
(KRQE) SANTA FE - The attorney of Scott Owens called a tow trucker to the stand to prove that the alleged drunk driver who's accused of causing a wrong way crash was in his lane that night. Owens is accused of crossing the center line in a two-lane ...

Kalamazoo man dies after wrong-way collision with semi-truck along US 131 in ...
MLive.com
By Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press WAYLAND – A 61-year-old Kalamazoo man died early Saturday after the pickup truck he was driving the wrong way on US 131 collided head-on with a semi-truck. Kenneth Wrozek was pronounced dead at Spectrum Health's ...

Older drivers sometimes experience diminished skills
Bakersfield Californian
He said the best way to approach the matter is in a group setting, with other relatives providing support and talking about why the person shouldn't drive anymore. Those reasons include driving in the wrong lane, becoming confused, and trouble seeing ...

DWI charges lodged against wrong-way driver
Buffalo News
According to Central District officers, Teraysa Smith of Northland Avenue was driving the wrong way on the Elm Street overpass when her car collided with an inbound vehicle. The crash occurred shortly after 4 am Friday. Smith had a blood-alcohol ...

At scene of wrong-way driver, 'Before it hit us, there wasn't a whole lot of time'
Minneapolis Star Tribune
A wrong-way driver on a street near Dinkytown struck three University of Minnesota students on a sidewalk after bar closing early Friday and took off, leaving one of the pedestrians in critical condition and the other two injured, authorities said. ...

Minneapolis police say wrong-way driver strikes 3 people on sidewalk near ...
The Republic
AP MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police say a driver going the wrong way on a street near the University of Minnesota campus struck and injured three pedestrians walking on a sidewalk early Friday. Police say all three victims were taken to Hennepin ...

Wrong-way driver causes accident on Interstate
Trinidad Times Independent
By Steve Block, Staff writer, TTi A car being driven in the wrong direction on Interstate 25 Wednesday collided head on with another vehicle, but only minor injuries resulted in the crash north of Trinidad. The silver car with New Mexico license plates ...

Woman taken to hospital after truck crashes into bedroom
KCBD-TV
This all happened around 6:30 pm Neighbors say wrong-way drivers are a problem in that neighborhood. "I don't know if he was trying to beat the traffic and make it to this stop sign or what, but there's been several cars that come down like that anyway ...

Wrong-way Drivers on the interstate highway

If you think wrong-way drivers on the Interstate Highway system is a once-in-a-while thing, think again. Look at these reports from Google. It seems like there is an epidemic of wrong-way collisions and crashes out there. We've had several wrong-way drivers and accidents in Iowa.

About wrong-way drivers

Wrong way drivers present an obvious danger to all motorists on our highways. 

The most recent available crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates wrong way drivers are involved in 1.5 percent of all fatal crashes.

Drivers who travel the wrong way on one way highways generally fall into one of eight different categories:

• Intoxicated driver
• Older drivers who easily get confused
• Purposeful acts including attempts to commit suicide and criminals attempting to elude the police
• Inattentive drivers who mistake an off-ramp for an on-ramp
• Mental defect or disease
• Prescription drug intoxication
• Inexperience
• GPS providing incorrect, inaccurate or confusing information

Safety tips and information related to wrong way driver situations:

• Watch far ahead for signs of a possible wrong way driver, looking for signs similar to pending problems or developing emergency situations such as other traffic braking or swerving to avoid something, or the obvious - headlights coming in the opposite direction.
• Caution against driving long periods in the left lane on freeways, especially on curves and over a hill or any rise in the road where you aren’t able to clearly see ahead.
• Be aware that wrong way drivers usually drive in the passing lane believing they are actually on a two-lane highway.
• The most common types of wrong way crashes are head-on or sideswipe crashes.

What should you do if you see a wrong-way driver?

• Get to the shoulder and stop.
• If you can’t get to the shoulder, slow down and attempt to safely stop your vehicle by pulling to the right.
• Sound your horn.
• Put on your lights and flash the high beams.
• Call 9-1-1.
• Before getting in the car wear your seat belts.
• Drive in the right hand lane of travel on the Interstate.
• When passing or coming to the crest of a hill look ahead for a wrong-way driver making sure the lane is clear.
• Assume when in the left hand lane of a divided highway that you may come upon a wrong-way driver.
• When driving on a divided highway stay vigilant and pay attention to what is ahead of you. Avoid allowing distractions to take your attention off the road ahead.

How can drivers avoid wrong-way driving?

• Don’t drive drunk.
• When coming to a divided highway come to a complete stop, look at and read the signs, making sure you know which way to go.
• Don’t allow vehicles to the rear to rush you.
• Stay off the telephone when driving.
• Don’t allow distractions to interfere with being vigilant about your driving.
• If you’re a young driver, don’t drive when the other passengers are a distraction.
• If you’re an elderly driver, get evaluated once a year to see if your senses and skill level allow you to safely drive. Don’t be so stubborn about giving up your driver’s license that you ignore the signs of perception difficulties. Invest in and use a GPS.
• Pay particular attention when driving north for southbound wrong-way drivers. For whatever reason there were more of these direction wrong-way drivers than any other.
• Pay particular attention when driving after midnight and 2:30 a.m.

What else needs to happen to reduce wrong-way collisions?

• States could identify the locations of repeated wrong-way entry points. Those points could be redesigned including tire puncture equipment such as we see in use at most parking ramps.
• The Court’s must get very tough on drunk drivers and those who cause collisions from being on cell phones (talking or texting); more than they already have been.
• The DOT should begin an education campaign for drivers to recognize and avoid wrong-way drivers.
• The DOT should begin an education campaign to instruct drivers what to do when a wrong-way driver approaches.
• States should further study wrong-way avoidance road and sign designs.
• State DOT’s should consider a different middle line design with hash marks bent in the direction of travel and against the opposing direction.
• Juries in civil actions need to send a clear message to offenders with large punitive damage awards.
• The DOT needs to evaluate older drivers annually for visual and mental awareness; taking away driving privileges where there is risk.
• Lawyers need to plead punitive damages in wrong-way collisions.
• Victims need to be educated on what to do when they are involved in a wrong-way collision.
• Witnesses of wrong-way collisions need to get involved with identifying themselves to police officers investigating a wrong-way collision. Those witnesses may have very valuable information to helping identify the entry points, causes and preventive measures.
• DOT accident forms need to be amended to allow the collection of information to identify characteristics associated with causing wrong-way entry points, times when wrong-way collisions are most likely to occur and driver characteristics of those likely to drive the wrong-way. Children and friends of older drivers need to get involved with identifying those likely wrong-way drivers.
• States should consider a radio system that would allow public service interruptions, like what is done on television when a weather emergency is eminent. It wouldn’t be perfect (not all radios are on) but something is perhaps better than nothing.

If you have questions feel free to contact us and as always because we’d rather you call sooner than later.

• Steve Lombardi, 1300 37^th Street, Suite 6, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
• Tel: 515-222-1110 Fax: 515-222-0718 Email: sdlombardi@aol.com

---