Columbus - Just last week, three Ohioans died in a wrong way crash in northern Indiana. This past weekend, police responded to two wrong-way crashes in Cleveland.
When it comes to wrong way accidents, they're usually severe or deadly. The Ohio Department of Transportation is testing out new technology, a radar that detects cars going the wrong way.
On November 22, 2013, 10TV was on the scene of a wrong-way crash that shut down I-71. On that night, James Lawson drove the wrong way down I-71 for 8-miles, crashing into a semi. After 7 surgeries and the loss of his leg, Lawson lived to talk about his mistake.
"Thankfully I didn't hurt anyone else, just myself, which I can live with," Lawson says while adding, "I'm blessed, lucky to be alive."
ODOT spokesperson Matt Bruning says that's not typically the case in wrong-way crashes.
"These crashes make up .02 percent of crashes but when they happen they're catastrophic," Bruning explains. "It's frustrating for us because these crashes should not happen. They're all preventable because it's someone making a choice."
For that reason, ODOT is trying to do more to prevent wrong-way accidents. Their latest addition is a radar that detects vehicles going the wrong direction on a ramp located at I-670 and Neil Avenue near downtown Columbus.
"In the traffic management center at ODOT we get an alarm that goes off. We can alert police quickly or alert motorists if that's an option," Bruning says.
Bruning says this detector was placed at the Neil Avenue ramp because of it's proximity to bars, a suggestion from Columbus Police.
"The vast majority of these crashes is impairment and it's not just barely over the limit, it's severely drunk or severely impaired by another substance. Very rarely it's people that are confused," Bruning says.
James Lawson admits, he did drink and drive the night of his crash. While a detector like this may have stopped him, he says the other solution is simple.
"Don't drink and drive, that's one from my end," Lawson says.
ODOT says they're doubling up on wrong way signs in 17 counties across the state. Those signs will be placed at two locations, one at 3 feet and the other at 7 feet. At 3-feet, the sign will be closer to eye level, if the driver is looking down.