In May, state Trooper Kevin Trainor was killed by a wrong-way driver on Route 1 in Lynnfield. In January 2025, a Brewster man died driving the wrong way on Route 3 in Plymouth.
Massachusetts has been seeing a growing number of fatal wrong-way crashes, according to data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Now, a new law seeks to prevent more of these types of crashes.
Last month, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law wrong-way driving legislation as part of the fiscal year 2027 budget. Originally an amendment filed by Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, the legislation establishes a wrong-way driving prevention strategy, implements roadway safety improvements and identifies high risk locations.
It's the culmination of a year of work Tarr has been doing since Endicott College Police Department Sergeant Jeremy Cole and 18-year-old Christopher Dailey died in wrong-way driving collisions in 2024 and 2025 respectively, according to a press release from Tarr's office.
"The deaths of Christopher Dailey, Sergeant Jeremy Cole, Trooper Kevin Trainor, and every life lost to wrong-way driving represent heartbreaking tragedies for their families, friends, and communities," Tarr, R-Gloucester, said in a statement July 23. "The best way we can honor their memory—and protect everyone who travels on our roadways—is by doing everything possible to prevent these crashes before they happen."
The new law seeks to prevent wrong-way driving through safety improvements, educational campaigns and new technology.
Here are some of the steps it takes:
Establishes a "data-driven wrong-way driving prevention strategy" for all limited access roadways, or highways with limited entry and exit points
Implements roadway safety improvements, including directional striping on highway ramps, enhanced signage, improved roadway lighting and real-time wrong-way driver detection systems
Incorporates wrong-way driving prevention education into driver training programs
Requires annual wrong-way driving public awareness campaigns through the Registry of Motor Vehicles
Mandates wrong-way driving instruction in law enforcement officer training
Directs a feasibility study on improving roadway safety for drivers over 70
The plan requires that implementation prioritize high-risk locations, which are determined based on data on wrong-way driving incidents and roadway deficiencies. It also calls for annual reporting to the legislature on implementation progress, costs and effectiveness.
"Every life lost to a wrong-way driver is a heartbreaking tragedy that reminds us why we must do everything we can to make our roads safer," Healey said in a statement. "Together, we're taking meaningful action to save lives and prevent more families from experiencing these heartbreaking losses."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Wrong-way driving deaths are growing in Mass., AAA says. How a new law could help.