83-Year-Old Wrong-Way Driver Stopped
Police pulled over an elderly woman driving the wrong way on a busy highway
The woman, identified as 83-year-old Gertrude Smith, was driving a red Toyota Camry southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, Virginia.
A concerned motorist called 911 after spotting Smith's car traveling in the wrong direction. Police arrived on the scene and pulled Smith over. She was not injured and did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Smith told police that she was confused and had made a wrong turn. She was issued a citation for reckless driving and released.
No other vehicles were involved in the incident.
Wrong-way driving is a serious traffic violation that can lead to serious accidents.
In 2020, there were over 300 fatal wrong-way driving crashes in the United States. These crashes accounted for about 2% of all traffic fatalities that year.
Wrong-way driving can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Driver error
- Poor road design
- Lack of signage
- Impaired driving
- Medical conditions
There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the risk of wrong-way driving, including:
- Improving road design and signage
- Installing wrong-way driving detection systems
- Educating drivers about the dangers of wrong-way driving
- Enforcing traffic laws
If you see a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction, do not attempt to pass it. Instead, pull over to the side of the road and call 911.
