Photo: Courtesy of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Dept. of Transportation
(Columbus) In an effort to combat congested highway traffic crashes, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Thursday unveiled a new highway warning system that will alert drivers of slow or stopped traffic ahead. The system will go up first at thirteen locations in the state, deemed among the most dangerous in the state. Three of those locations will be in northeast Ohio. One of them will be on I-90 westbound as it approaches the route 2 split into downtown. Another will be installed on Route 176, better known as the Jennings Freeway. The third location will be on Route 8 at Howe Avenue just outside of Akron. The system uses cameras to determine if traffic is slowing down or has come to a stop and will send a signal to a sign two miles back to alert oncoming drivers to be prepared.
The program will take a couple of years to get all thirteen locations set up. And, if all goes well, more locations will be selected for the technology to be installed. Dewine says in 2023 there were more than 8,800 highway rear-end crashes. He says this new technology could help reduce such crashes by about 16-percent. The Governor stressed that no matter how much technology goes into safety measures, the most important thing is for drivers to be alert and to not drive distracted.
To see what the warning signs will look like click here.
Copyright 2024 iHeartMedia
Listen to WTAM for news at the top and bottom of the hour.