Enacts the "Alexander Whalen Safe Highways Act" pertaining to wrong-way vehicle detection systems
SB 672 creates a new section of Missouri law establishing the “Alexander Whalen Safe Highways Act,” which directs the Department of Transportation to implement wrong-way vehicle detection systems (WWVDS) on state highways no later than March 1, 2026. The bill defines a WWVDS as a combination of detection equipment, enhanced wrong-way/do not enter signs with LED or similar visibility features, and real-time alerts. It requires the department to prioritize installation at highway interchanges, starting with the westbound Interstate 64 and Jefferson Avenue interchange, and then at other locations with elevated wrong-way driving incidents identified through crash and traffic data analysis.
In addition to installation, the bill requires the department to study and evaluate related safety measures, including whether systems can notify nearby drivers and emergency responders when a wrong-way driver is detected. It also directs the department to provide educational information about wrong-way driving risks and safety practices. Beginning December 31, 2026, and annually thereafter, the department must submit a report on implementation and effectiveness, including the number and location of systems installed and planned, the impact on incidents and fatalities, cost-effectiveness, and any needed changes to implementation strategy.
The bill would add section 226.1250 to chapter 226, RSMo, imposing new duties on the Missouri Department of Transportation to plan, install, evaluate, educate, and report on wrong-way vehicle detection systems. It does not create a private right of action or directly regulate drivers, but it would require state transportation resources to be directed toward identified high-risk interchanges and ongoing monitoring of safety outcomes. The measure would also establish a formal reporting framework for tracking the program’s effectiveness and future expansion.
The available context suggests a generally supportive, safety-focused purpose, with the bill framed as a highway fatality prevention measure and named in memory of Alexander Whalen. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented opposition or recorded floor/committee sentiment in the supplied materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be presented as a targeted traffic safety initiative rather than a controversial policy change.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be cost, implementation timing, and whether the technology will be effective enough to justify statewide deployment. The bill requires the department to prioritize one specific interchange first and to evaluate broader notification systems for drivers and emergency responders, which suggests some uncertainty about the best approach. Without transcript or vote data, however, no specific legislator, agency, or stakeholder objections are documented in the provided record.