TDOT Installs Wrong-Way Driver Detection in Memphis
Tennessee's first automated wrong-way detection system is being installed along interstates in Memphis and Shelby County.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Car Types
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The Tennessee Department of Transportation is installing an automated system to detect wrong-way drivers on Memphis interstates. The first of its kind in Tennessee, the system uses motion sensors to flash a warning sign to drivers entering from the wrong side.
Why it matters
The system is intended to detect wrong-way drivers sooner and prevent wrong-way crashes, which TDOT says current 'Wrong Way' signs are not sufficient to stop. Memphis motorists on I-240 and I-40 are directly affected by the installation.
Four locations along I-240 and I-40 were chosen because they recorded the most wrong-way crashes between 2011 and 2019. Total crash counts per site were not included in the available data.
The players
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
The state agency responsible for Tennessee's highways and interstate system, overseeing this installation as the first such detection system deployed in the state.
The details
A motion sensor detects when a vehicle enters an interstate from the wrong side, triggering a flashing sign that instructs the driver to turn around. The system also warns drivers exiting the same ramp that a wrong-way vehicle is approaching.
Timeline
2011–2019: Period of recorded wrong-way crash data used to select sites.
Week of November 9, 2026: Overnight lane closures in Memphis begin for installation.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Scheduled end of overnight lane closures.
Spring 2027: Expected full implementation of the detection system.
Roadmap
Tennessee's installation extends motion-activated ramp warning technology, previously limited in use, into a state that had not deployed it. The move reflects a shift from passive 'Wrong Way' signage toward active, sensor-triggered alerts on high-crash interstate ramps.
Memphis drivers on I-240 and I-40 may encounter overnight lane closures through November 13, 2026. Once installed, drivers entering ramps from the wrong side will see a flashing warning sign directing them to turn around.
The takeaway
Drivers should watch for flashing wrong-way warnings on Memphis interstate ramps and follow them immediately if they realize they have entered a ramp from the wrong side. Staying alert on exit ramps remains the most reliable safeguard during the transition period.
What happens next
Overnight lane closures in Memphis continue through Friday, November 13, 2026, with full implementation of the detection system expected in spring 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Car Types to see how vehicle and road-safety technology is shaping driving in Memphis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox13.
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