Nearly 90 wrong-way driving detection systems that were installed in June have already detected more than 215 wrong-way driving incidents, leading to roughly 140 drivers correcting course on the road.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation expects to bring about 40 additional detection systems by the end of the year, with a goal of having 300 in operation by the end of 2027.
The cameras come as part of an initiative launched in June by Gov. Maura Healey to prevent car accidents caused by those driving the wrong way and improve roadway safety across Massachusetts.
“Wrong-way driving crashes can have devastating consequences for families, and we’re doing everything we can to take action to prevent these tragedies before they happen,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a statement. “That’s why we invested to put new safety technology on our highways, warn drivers when they’re going the wrong way and help law enforcement respond quickly.”
Since the launch of the $75 million effort, the MassDOT has installed wrong-way detection systems at 86 locations across the state, including upgrading existing traffic signals and highway cameras.
The systems detect vehicles that are driving the wrong way and send real-time alerts to transportation officials and law enforcement. The system also includes flashing warning signs to alert drivers when they are heading in the wrong direction.
Neil Boudreau, assistant administrator for traffic and safety at the MassDOT Highway Division, said the benefit of these cameras is that they have the ability to detect drivers “right at the source where things are happening.”
“That’s allowing us to be able to get that information to the state police and stop things in its tracks,” he said. “But because we’re getting these alerts quicker, we’re just getting better notification, and it’s telling us where they’re happening. It allows us to go out and do some evaluation of other measures that we could do to try to prevent [wrong-way incidents].”
Boudreau said between Nov. 2022 and Sept. 2025, 16 wrong-way detection systems identified 325 vehicles traveling the wrong way. Nearly 190 of those drivers self-corrected while 136 continued driving the wrong way.
From the start of 2026 through Sept. 22, 54 wrong-way incidents were detected with 36 of those drivers self-correcting and 18 continuing in the wrong direction.
The MassDOT could not immediately provide data around the number of car accidents caused by those driving the wrong way. But Boudreau said they have “absolutely seen some this year.”
“We’ve obviously seen the ones that have made the news for the horrific crashes,” he said. “There’s been others that have resulted in crashes that were not fatalities…”
On Oct. 25, Massachusetts State Police reported that a high school student who was driving the wrong way on Route 1 was killed in a head-on crash in Revere. On Tuesday morning, a minivan that was traveling the wrong way crashed into another vehicle on Route 3 in Chelmsford.
“Wrong-way driving incidents pose an extraordinary danger to everyone on our roadways,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble in a statement. “Our Troopers frequently respond to these dangerous situations, putting their lives at risk to ensure public safety. The tragic loss of Trooper Kevin Trainor in a wrong-way driving crash this year underscored the urgency of this work and the continued collaboration among public safety and transportation officials to do what we can to prevent these incidents and save lives.”
MassDOT has also installed upgraded “wrong way” and “do not enter” signs, and repainted road markings at 85% of highway ramps statewide. Other improvements include directional arrows and better lighting to help drivers safely enter and exit highways.
Boudreau said a lot of states already have some of the same systems that Massachusetts has in place, but that the state is using existing traffic lights and other traffic systems to implement these detection systems.
“A lot of states are asking us what we’re doing because they want to look and try to do the same thing,” he said. “We’re hoping that this is something that gets more widespread to help other states do the same thing and prevent wrong-way crashes.”
