PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Department of Transportation is crediting its thermal camera-based wrong-way vehicle detection system with stopping an accident from happening on a Phoenix freeway.
They say the detection system alerted authorities and other motorists early Monday about a pickup truck being driven the wrong way on Interstate 17.
State Department of Public Safety troopers took the driver into custody and nobody was injured.
ADOT officials say the thermal camera detected the truck getting on the freeway about 3 a.m. and DPS troopers were dispatched quickly.
The $4 million system involves 90 thermal cameras along 15 miles of I-17.
ADOT officials say the system has been operational for a year and has recorded detections of more than 45 wrong-way vehicles so far.
