Establishes the "Alexander Whalen Safe Highways Act", which requires the department of transportation to implement wrong-way vehicle detection systems
HB1387 establishes the "Alexander Whalen Safe Highways Act" and directs the Missouri Department of Transportation to begin installing wrong-way vehicle detection systems (WWVDS) no later than March 1, 2026. The bill defines a WWVDS as a combination of radar sensors, thermal cameras, enhanced wrong-way and do-not-enter signs with LED lighting, and real-time alerts sent to traffic management centers and law enforcement. The department must prioritize high-risk interchanges, starting with the westbound Interstate 64 and Jefferson Avenue intersection, and then other locations identified through crash and traffic data.
The bill also requires WWVDSs to be integrated with dynamic message signs so warnings can be displayed to nearby drivers, and it directs the department to create an automatic notification system for emergency responders when a wrong-way driver is detected. In addition, MoDOT must conduct a statewide public education campaign on wrong-way driving risks and safety measures, and submit annual reports beginning December 31, 2026 on implementation, effectiveness, costs, and any needed changes to the program.
HB1387 would add a new section to Chapter 226, RSMo, creating a new state transportation safety mandate for MoDOT. It would require the department to install and maintain wrong-way detection technology at selected highway interchanges, coordinate alerts with traffic management and law enforcement, and report annually to the General Assembly and the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight. The bill would also create new operational responsibilities for emergency notification, public education, and performance tracking related to wrong-way driving incidents and fatalities.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears strongly safety-oriented and preventive, with a clear focus on reducing serious crashes and fatalities caused by wrong-way driving. The bill is framed as a memorialized highway safety initiative and does not show recorded opposition, committee debate, or vote history in the provided materials. Overall, the available context suggests a generally favorable or at least noncontroversial posture toward the proposal, centered on traffic safety and technology deployment.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so specific points of contention are not documented in the available materials. Potential areas of debate, if raised, would likely involve the cost of installing and maintaining detection systems, which interchanges should be prioritized, whether the March 1, 2026 implementation deadline is feasible, and how effective the technology will be compared with other safety measures. The annual reporting requirement suggests lawmakers may want oversight on cost-effectiveness and implementation strategy, but no explicit disagreement is shown in the record provided.