Back رانندگی در خلاف جهت Persian Circulation à contresens French 逆走事故 Japanese 역주행 Korean Spookrijden Dutch Kjøring i feil kjøreretning NB Spökkörning Swedish 逆向行駛 Chinese 逆線行車 ZH-YUE
 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (October 2016) |
Wrong-way driving (WWD), also known as contraflow driving, is the act of driving a motor vehicle against the direction of traffic. It can occur on either one- or two-way roads, as well as in parking lots and parking garages, and may be due to driver inattention or impairment, or because of insufficient or confusing road markings or signage,[1] or a driver from a right-hand traffic country being unaccustomed to driving in a left-hand traffic country and vice versa. People intentionally drive in the wrong direction because they missed an exit, for thrill-seeking, or as a shortcut.[2]
Wrong-way driving is particularly dangerous on a divided highway, especially a freeway; the higher speeds typical of such roads mean that wrong-way driving invariably leads to a head-on collision.[3] It is also evidenced by a number of videos that have been posted on the internet showing the exact moment of wrong-way driving and subsequent head-on collisions.[4] In the United States, about 355 people are killed each year in crashes caused by drivers headed in the wrong direction on the highway.[5][6] Given an average of 265 fatal WWD crashes, 1.34 fatalities per WWD fatal crash can be calculated. The significance of this kind of crash is corroborated when this number is compared to the fatalities per fatal crash rate of 1.10 for all other crash types, which translates to 24 more fatalities per 100 fatal crashes for WWD crashes than for fatal crashes in general.[7] Most drivers who enter a divided highway or ramp in the wrong direction correct themselves by turning around.[6]
Depending on the jurisdiction, WWD is a punishable offense. In New Zealand, WWD is counted as careless driving and can result in up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine up to NZ$10,000.[citation needed]
- ^ US National Transportation Safety Board (2012-12-11). "Wrong-Way Driving" (PDF). Special Investigative Report 12/01. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. pp. 1–77. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ "Geisterfahrer auf der Autobahn: Warum sie gegenan rasen / Alles hochgradig hirnlose Kutscher? (Wrong-way driver on the highway: Why they race contrarily / All utterly brainless coachmen?)" (in German). Der Spiegel. December 4, 1978. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ Zhou, Huaguo; Zhao, Jiguang; Fries, Ryan; Pour-Rouholamin, Mahdi (2014). Statistical Characteristics of Wrong-Way Driving Crashes on Illinois Freeways. Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ "What to Do If a Wrong-Way Driver Is Coming Your Way to Avoid a Disastrous Collision". Inside Edition. 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Pour-Rouholamin, Mahdi; Zhou, Huaguo; Shaw, Jeffrey; Tobias, Priscilla (2015). Current Practices of Safety Countermeasures for Wrong-Way Driving Crashes. Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ a b Moler, Steve (2002). "Stop. You're going the wrong way". Public Roads. 66 (2). Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
- ^ Pour-Rouholamin, Mahdi; Zhou, Huaguo; Zhang, Beijia; Turochy, Rod (2016). Comprehensive Analysis of Wrong-Way Driving Crashes on Alabama Interstates. Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 1 March 2016.