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.168594.1
SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 68
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST 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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.168594.1
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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 state of the practice on 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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.168594.1
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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