Wisconsin highway officials team up to stop wrong-way drivers

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- State and county highway officials are teaming up to try and put a stop to wrong-way drivers on the freeway. 

The Department of Transportation, State Patrol and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office are collectively bringing attention to the issue they call "an epidemic".

The State Patrol says in the last three years, 312 drivers got on the freeway going the wrong direction in Milwaukee County. 

Last year alone there were 500 wrong-way drivers reported statewide. The State Patrol says its partnership with the Sheriff's Office is more important than ever because all 15 of the wrong-way drivers stopped so far this year in Milwaukee County have been impaired.

"Wrong-way drivers typically when they crash cause horrific vehicle crashes out there, resulting in fatalities, serious property damage or personal injury events," said Lt. Nate Clarke with State Patrol.

State Patrol says they have tools to quickly notify them of wrong-way drivers, and also allow them to notify other drivers that they may encounter a wrong-way vehicle. They are hoping to expand those tools.