LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As the Fourth of July weekend nears, Las Vegas is taking steps to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s tragic wrong-way crashes, which included an incident that claimed the life of a 10-year-old child. News 3 takes a closer look at the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) efforts to address the issue via new technology amid budget constraints.
NDOT is currently operating with around $150 million less than its 2024 budget. That may be impacting the rollout of anti-wrong way technology. This technology, which includes radar and closed-circuit cameras, is designed to detect vehicles entering highways in the wrong direction. When triggered, it activates flashing signs to alert drivers and dispatches emergency authorities. However, only four interchanges in Southern Nevada are equipped with this system through NDOT.
Lisa Frazier, whose stepdaughter was injured by a wrong-way driver on the 95 Freeway and Charleston Avenue on-ramp, is advocating for increased investment in this technology. “Now we have got 4 or 5 [wrong-way crashes] a weekend. We have to do something,” Frazier said. She acknowledged the financial expense of state dollars but emphasized the importance of preventing future crashes.
NDOT explained in a statement that the systems are installed at newer interchanges where infrastructure supports the technology. “The scale and cost of these systems contribute to a gradual, phased approach,” the statement said. Each system costs between $220,000 and $300,000 per ramp, with multiple ramps per interchange.
Sandy Heverly, Executive Director of STOP DUI, argues that technology alone is insufficient to combat drunk driving. “Stop signs, red lights, crosswalks, other traffic devices; do not stop drunk drivers,” Heverly said. She advocates for harsher penalties for DUI offenses, stating, “The thing that is going to stop these people or to help stop these people from driving under the influence is having a penalty that outweighs the risk these drunken fools are willing to take.”
In the meantime, Frazier’s step-daughter is in recovery at UMC following multiple surgeries.