Driving the Wrong Way on Divided Highways

It is fortunate that this type of collision is relatively rare because the consequences are severe. I am speaking of driving the wrong way on a divided highway or freeway.

We received a driving complaint about once a month for someone driving on the wrong side of the Inland Island Highway when I was working for the B.C. Highway Patrol in Parksville.

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Reasons for Wrong Way Driving

The most frequent reasons for traveling the wrong way include impaired driving, attempts at suicide and genuine confusion. Other reasons can include age, mental defect or disease and confusing signage. One study that I read indicated that some do not enter signs were posted too high to be in the normal scanning path of older drivers.

Strategies to Protect Yourself

So, how do you protect yourself from a wrong way driver? Travel in the right lane except when passing as it is most likely the wrong way driver will be in the lane to your left. If you don't have daytime running lights, turn on your headlights. Scan well ahead at all times, and finally, wear your seat belt properly.

Getting Out of the Way

What to do if you encounter a wrong way driver? Move to the right onto the shoulder and stop. Reducing the closing speed of the vehicles and not taking the collision forces directly head on will improve chances for survival.

BC Wrong Way Crash Statistics

I used the Injury Data Online Tool (iDOT) hosted by the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit. The tool does not allow selecting a divided highway road type, but choosing a speed of 110 to 120 km/h would likely limit the results appropriately. Between 2002 and 2021 there were 6 deaths and 19 injuries cause by wrong way driving.

Total wrong side collision statistics for all highways in the province include 598 deaths and 5059 injuries.

Learn More

• Fact Sheet - Institute for Road Safety Research
• Investigation of Contributing Factors
• Fact Sheet - National Transportation Safety Board

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