ODOT Adds Wrong-Way Driver Detection to Exit Ramps

New technology aims to reduce risk of deadly wrong-way crashes in central Ohio

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:35am

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An abstract, colorful image with sweeping, blurred lines representing a speeding car on a highway exit ramp, conveying the urgency and danger of a wrong-way driver situation.New technology aims to quickly detect and alert authorities to wrong-way drivers, reducing the risk of these rare but deadly highway incidents.Columbus Today

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has installed wrong-way driver detection systems on dozens of exit ramps around central Ohio. The technology alerts ODOT's traffic management center and flashes warning signs when a vehicle enters a ramp in the wrong direction, allowing for a faster response to potentially dangerous situations.

Why it matters

Wrong-way crashes, while rare, are 40 times more likely to be deadly than other types of crashes. ODOT is investing in this technology to help reduce the risk of these high-impact incidents, which can have devastating consequences for drivers and passengers.

The details

ODOT first piloted the wrong-way detection technology in 2016 and has been expanding it across the state since 2019. In 2025, the department added the systems to at least 30 exit ramps in central Ohio. When a wrong-way driver is detected, the system flashes warning signs and alerts ODOT's traffic management center, which can then track the vehicle and coordinate with law enforcement.

  • ODOT first piloted the wrong-way detection technology in 2016.
  • Starting in 2019, the technology was permanently added in other parts of the state.
  • In 2025, ODOT added the systems to at least 30 exit ramps in central Ohio.
  • In 2024, the detectors on ramps equipped with the technology in other parts of the state were triggered 354 times, with 83% of drivers turning around before making it to the highway.

The players

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

The state transportation agency responsible for maintaining Ohio's roads and highways, including the installation of wrong-way driver detection technology on exit ramps.

Matt Bruning

The press secretary for ODOT, who provided details on the department's wrong-way driver detection efforts and the impact of the technology.

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What they’re saying

“It's a rare issue but it's a bigger issue because people are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in crashes involving a wrong-way driver.”

— Matt Bruning, Press Secretary, ODOT

“What this allows us to do is take miles and minutes and reduce that to feet and seconds.”

— Matt Bruning, Press Secretary, ODOT

“It's about reducing risk. The only people that can prevent a wrong-way crash are the drivers themselves. What we try to do is reduce the risk of those from occurring.”

— Matt Bruning, Press Secretary, ODOT

What’s next

ODOT plans to continue evaluating the effectiveness of the wrong-way driver detection technology and may consider expanding it to additional exit ramps in the state if the system continues to prove successful in reducing the risk of these dangerous incidents.

The takeaway

ODOT's investment in wrong-way driver detection technology on exit ramps represents a proactive approach to improving road safety and potentially saving lives in central Ohio. By quickly identifying and alerting authorities to wrong-way drivers, the system aims to mitigate the devastating impact of these rare but high-risk crashes.