Arizona Department of Transportation is testing thermal cameras in the Valley to detect wrong-way vehicles. The cameras alerted authorities to wrong-way drivers in the early-morning hours of Sunday and Monday.
Both incidents occurred on Loop 101 in the northwest Valley. The first was early Sunday on Loop 101 and 75th Avenue, when cameras detected a wrong-way vehicle entering the eastbound freeway.
The cameras triggered an alert to ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center, which activated warnings on overhead message boards, and alerted state troopers. Troopers later found the vehicle stopped on the shoulder of Loop 101 northbound near Grand Avenue. No crashes occurred.
Another wrong-way driver was detected a day later, on northbound Loop 101 at Bell Road. Again, no crashes occurred.
Arizona is the first in the nation installing these wrong-way cameras. Most are being installed on Interstate 17 in Central and north Phoenix, though cameras on other freeways are also being tested.
