Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced a new effort to help reduce and prevent the number of serious crashes due to congestion in Ohio. ODOT will be installing the new technology to alert drivers of dangerous slow downs in traffic miles ahead. The new technology is made up of a camera system that can detect slow or stopped traffic and will send messages to electronic signs along the road to warn drivers of the upcoming traffic hazard.
Alerts will also be pushed to OHGO and other traffic apps. The Ohio Department of Transportation has started installing it at 13 highway sites, including two in Cleveland and one in Akron. These spots were strategically picked based on statistics of areas most likely to experience backups and crashes. This new initiative should be operational within two years and Ohio’s transportation department will continue to search for other highway locations that could benefit from the new technology.
Automated Traffic Queue Warning System Locations
Northeast Ohio (3 locations):
- Cuyahoga I-90 WB, E. 55th to SR 2 Split (Innerbelt Curve)
- Cuyahoga SR 176 NB south of Denison to I-71/I-90 merge
- Summit SR 8 at Howe Ave
Central Ohio (6 locations):
- Licking I-70 westbound at SR 310
- Franklin I-70 EB before US 33
- Franklin I-670 EB before SR 315
- Franklin SR 315 SB before Kinnear Rd.
- Franklin I-270 SB before Refugee Rd/ramp to US-33
- Franklin I-71 SB before N. Broadway/Cooke Rd.
Southwest Ohio (4 locations):
- Hamilton SR 126 EB before I-71
- Hamilton I-71 NB before SR 126
- Hamilton I-275 WB after I-75
- Greene I-675 SB before Wilmington Pike
“As technology continues to evolve, we’re always looking for new ways to help prevent serious and fatal crashes on our highways,” stated Governor DeWine. “Although we’re confident that these warning systems will help prevent crashes, there is still no substitute for safe driving. For these signs to be effective, drivers must be paying attention.” The new warning systems specifically target deadly “end-of-queue” crashes that occur when drivers fail to recognize slowing or stopped traffic on highways. According to ODOT, end-of-queue highway accidents have increased over the past three years to 8,811 crashes in 2023. The Automated Traffic Queue Warning System is estimated to decrease rear-end crashes by at least 16%.
