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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 1

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SPECIAL SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A

RESEARCH PROJECT THAT WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF WRONG-WAY

DRIVERS ON NEW MEXICO'S INTERSTATE AND LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAYS

AND LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE COUNTERMEASURES.

WHEREAS, since November 2006, New Mexico has recorded at

least five incidents of wrong-way drivers on the state's

interstate and limited-access highways, resulting in eight

fatalities and two seriously injured persons; and

WHEREAS, since the advent of the interstate highway

system, wrong-way driving on freeways has been a persistent

problem despite fifty years of highway striping and sign

improvements; and

WHEREAS, approximately three hundred fifty people

nationally are killed each year in wrong-way freeway crashes

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and thousands more are injured; and

WHEREAS, there does not appear to be a national-level

program to combat wrong-way driving as there are national-level

programs for rail crossings and highway work zones; and

WHEREAS, approximately sixty percent of all wrong-way

crashes involve impaired drivers; and

WHEREAS, most wrong-way crashes happen at night,

increasing significantly after 10:00 p.m. and peaking between

2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.; and

WHEREAS, the most frequent origin of wrong-way incidents

is a driver traveling in the opposite direction on a freeway

exit ramp onto the freeway main lanes; and

WHEREAS, the legislature finds that wrong-way driving is

both a national and a local problem; and

WHEREAS, wrong-way crashes have a serious economic impact;

and

WHEREAS, countermeasures to wrong-way driving fall into

four categories: traditional signage and pavement marking;

innovative signage and pavement marking; geometric

modifications to interchanges; and use of intelligent

transportation system technologies, such as electronic

detection, warning and notification; and

WHEREAS, the department of transportation is aware of the

wrong-way driving problem and is considering proposed

countermeasures in conjunction with the federal highway

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administration; and

WHEREAS, the department of transportation is recognized

nationally as a leader in addressing transportation issues;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be

requested to continue its consideration of wrong-way driving

countermeasures and in so doing perform the following tasks:

A. establish the best practices for safety, design

and operational issues related to wrong-way driving on

freeways, based on review of previous and ongoing studies;

B. survey other state departments of transportation

to gather information on typical wrong-way signage and marking

plans and innovative safety practices and countermeasures;

C. quantify the frequency, severity and other

characteristics of wrong-way crashes in New Mexico, based on

review of crash reports available from the department of public

safety and other agencies;

D. identify available countermeasures to reduce

wrong-way driving and crashes;

E. evaluate those countermeasures based on their

cost and their potential to address New Mexico's wrong-way

driving problem;

F. document typical situations that are likely to

lead to wrong-way entry onto highways; and

G. develop guidelines and recommended practices for

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the application of wrong-way countermeasures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of

transportation be requested to report its findings and

conclusions and any proposed legislation to the appropriate

interim legislative committee by October 1, 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the secretary of transportation,

the administrator of the New Mexico division of the federal

highway administration and the New Mexico legislative council.

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