Arkansas among first states to install system deterring wrong-way driving on interstate exits

LITTLE ROCK, Ark - The Arkansas Department of Transportation said the Natural State is among the first states to bring a potentially lifesaving system to interstate exits.

The system works when a camera detects a car going the wrong way. Lights will flash around a sign to warn drivers and an alert will be pushed to law enforcement.

Dave Parker with ARDOT says around 20 wrong-way interstate crashes happen a year in Arkansas and almost all are fatal.

"Any fatality, any accident, any crash that we can do something to try and lower that number, we're certainly going to do it," Parker said.

The state is installing 160 sensors to combat the problem ARDOT officials said is growing nationwide.

During a test phase months ago in Little Rock, five drivers over a month made the mistake of turning into the wrong ramp. Four of them corrected themselves when the system activated blinking warning signs. One kept going nearly hitting another vehicle. In those instances, ARDOT can and will notify police.

"Arkansas is on the leading edge. I don't know if we're the first state to do this, but we're definitely i...