Initiative details
Driving in the wrong direction (commonly referred to as “kamikaze driving”) is one of the most dangerous incidents on roads and highways. In Spain alone, according to the Spanish Traffic Management Center (DGT), over 300 wrong-way driving incidents are reported each year. Studies show that wrong-way crashes are up to 27 times more likely to result in fatality compared to other types of highway accidents.
This type of incident often stems from driver confusion, impairment (e.g., alcohol or drugs), or poor signage, and poses a critical challenge for traffic safety authorities and infrastructure operators across Europe.
PROIN-iWrongWay is an intelligent traffic safety system designed to detect vehicles driving in the wrong direction on roads and highways. The system uses real-time monitoring to identify reverse traffic incidents and immediately activates roadside warning signals to alert the driver. Simultaneously, it notifies local authorities for rapid response and incident management.
The system is fully connected to PROIN’s IoT platform (ProinCloud), enabling remote monitoring, data analytics, and system diagnostics. It also integrates seamlessly with external smart city and ITS platforms such as Sentilo and others, ensuring full interoperability.
Moreover, PROIN-iWrongWay is connected to DGT, allowing for direct coordination and enhanced national-level traffic control.
This type of incident often stems from driver confusion, impairment (e.g., alcohol or drugs), or poor signage, and poses a critical challenge for traffic safety authorities and infrastructure operators across Europe.
PROIN-iWrongWay is an intelligent traffic safety system designed to detect vehicles driving in the wrong direction on roads and highways. The system uses real-time monitoring to identify reverse traffic incidents and immediately activates roadside warning signals to alert the driver. Simultaneously, it notifies local authorities for rapid response and incident management.
The system is fully connected to PROIN’s IoT platform (ProinCloud), enabling remote monitoring, data analytics, and system diagnostics. It also integrates seamlessly with external smart city and ITS platforms such as Sentilo and others, ensuring full interoperability.
Moreover, PROIN-iWrongWay is connected to DGT, allowing for direct coordination and enhanced national-level traffic control.
Initiative date
to
Who was/is your target audience?
Public authorities
Car drivers
Car drivers – professional
Van drivers
Lorry/truck drivers
Powered two wheeler riders (excluding micromobility)
Topic
Provide alternative solutions
Organisation details
PROYECTOS INTEGRALES DE BALIZAMIENTO, S.L.
Enterprise
Spain
CABANILLAS DEL CAMPO (GUADALAJARA)
Contact name
PROYECTOS INTEGRALES DE BALIZAMIENTO, S.L.
Telephone number
+34699566307
patricia.camara@proinbal.es
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
PROIN is a proud member of EIT Urban Mobility, which focuses on accelerating positive change in urban mobility. EIT Urban Mobility brings together cities, companies, universities and research centers across Europe to develop and implement innovative solutions aimed at improving mobility systems and reducing traffic-related accidents.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
The implementation of PROIN-iWrongWay system involved a comprehensive set of activities to ensure technical robustness, operational effectiveness, and institutional coordination. Key activities carried out include:
- Site analysis and risk assessment to identify high-incidence zones for wrong-way driving and prioritize installation points. In Spain, a significant number of unintentional wrong-way driving incidents occur along the eastern coastal region, where there is a high influx of European tourists. This area is particularly vulnerable due to the presence of complex interchanges and unfamiliar driving environments, making it a critical focus for the implementation of preventive systems like PROIN-iWrongWay.
- Design and deployment of detection infrastructure, including sensors, cameras, and smart signage adapted to the road environment.
- Development and integration of the IoT-based monitoring platform, allowing real-time data visualization, diagnostics, and remote configuration.
- Interconnection with third-party platforms and the Traffic Management Center (DGT), ensuring data interoperability and multi-agency response coordination.
- Collaboration with local authorities and traffic enforcement units, establishing response protocols for automatic alerts.
These actions were essential to achieve a reliable and scalable deployment, capable of improving road safety and reducing the risk of high-impact accidents caused by wrong-way driving.
- Site analysis and risk assessment to identify high-incidence zones for wrong-way driving and prioritize installation points. In Spain, a significant number of unintentional wrong-way driving incidents occur along the eastern coastal region, where there is a high influx of European tourists. This area is particularly vulnerable due to the presence of complex interchanges and unfamiliar driving environments, making it a critical focus for the implementation of preventive systems like PROIN-iWrongWay.
- Design and deployment of detection infrastructure, including sensors, cameras, and smart signage adapted to the road environment.
- Development and integration of the IoT-based monitoring platform, allowing real-time data visualization, diagnostics, and remote configuration.
- Interconnection with third-party platforms and the Traffic Management Center (DGT), ensuring data interoperability and multi-agency response coordination.
- Collaboration with local authorities and traffic enforcement units, establishing response protocols for automatic alerts.
These actions were essential to achieve a reliable and scalable deployment, capable of improving road safety and reducing the risk of high-impact accidents caused by wrong-way driving.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
The implementation of PROIN-iWrongWay system has also faced several challenges, inherent to the deployment of innovative technologies in public infrastructure:
- High initial investment.- The development and installation of an advanced detection and alert system involves significant upfront costs, including hardware, software integration, and long-term maintenance. This may limit adoption in regions with restricted budgets or lower perceived risk.
- Compliance with road signage and infrastructure regulations.- Since the system integrates with roadside elements and activates visual alerts, it must fully comply with national and regional regulations on traffic signage, visibility, and power systems. Ensuring regulatory alignment often requires close collaboration with traffic authorities and may extend implementation timelines.
- Market entry barriers due to innovation.- As a completely novel product in the road safety market, PROIN-iWrongWay faces the challenge of limited awareness and lack of precedent. Public administrations and infrastructure operators may be hesitant to adopt unproven technologies without prior case studies or large-scale validations. This necessitates additional efforts in demonstration, education, and stakeholder engagement to build trust and credibility.
- High initial investment.- The development and installation of an advanced detection and alert system involves significant upfront costs, including hardware, software integration, and long-term maintenance. This may limit adoption in regions with restricted budgets or lower perceived risk.
- Compliance with road signage and infrastructure regulations.- Since the system integrates with roadside elements and activates visual alerts, it must fully comply with national and regional regulations on traffic signage, visibility, and power systems. Ensuring regulatory alignment often requires close collaboration with traffic authorities and may extend implementation timelines.
- Market entry barriers due to innovation.- As a completely novel product in the road safety market, PROIN-iWrongWay faces the challenge of limited awareness and lack of precedent. Public administrations and infrastructure operators may be hesitant to adopt unproven technologies without prior case studies or large-scale validations. This necessitates additional efforts in demonstration, education, and stakeholder engagement to build trust and credibility.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
PROIN-iWrongWay has been selected and presented as a pioneering solution within the Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) framework led by the Spanish Directorate-General for Roads. This project will be presented at upcoming events, including the ITS Congress and Smart City Expo World Congress, as part of our efforts to promote innovative solutions in road safety and urban mobility.
What has been the effect of the activities?
The impact of the project has been assessed based on the following key performance indicators:
- Reduction in road incidents.- Significant decrease in accidents caused by wrong-way driving.
- Detection Accuracy Rate.- Reliability and precision in identifying wrong-way vehicles.
- Average Response Time.- Speed from incident detection to alert generation and authority notification.
- Economic Efficiency.- Cost savings for emergency services and insurers due to accident prevention. Thanks to its low energy consumption, the system supports sustainable and energy-efficient operations.
- Stakeholder Satisfaction.- Evaluation by government stakeholders and transportation authorities.
- Scalability and Replicability.- Ease of adapting the system to new geographic or infrastructural contexts.
- Reduction in road incidents.- Significant decrease in accidents caused by wrong-way driving.
- Detection Accuracy Rate.- Reliability and precision in identifying wrong-way vehicles.
- Average Response Time.- Speed from incident detection to alert generation and authority notification.
- Economic Efficiency.- Cost savings for emergency services and insurers due to accident prevention. Thanks to its low energy consumption, the system supports sustainable and energy-efficient operations.
- Stakeholder Satisfaction.- Evaluation by government stakeholders and transportation authorities.
- Scalability and Replicability.- Ease of adapting the system to new geographic or infrastructural contexts.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
This innovative wrong-way driving prevention system is a powerful contribution to road safety. By detecting and deterring dangerous maneuvers in real time, it prevents one of the most lethal types of traffic accidents. Its ability to act proactively —warning both drivers and authorities— not only saves lives, but also demonstrates how smart technology can create safer, more resilient infrastructure. Moreover, thanks to its low power consumption, the system supports energy-efficient operation, aligning with broader sustainability goals. This solution embodies the kind of forward-thinking approach that defines the future of mobility and public safety.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
This project will be presented at upcoming events, including the ITS Congress and Smart City Expo World Congress, as part of our efforts to promote innovative solutions in road safety and urban mobility.