Drivers Frustrated Electronic Signs Don't Warn of Traffic Issues

By Jon Jordan, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Electronic Message Boards on interstates can be seen across Oklahoma. They're designed to alert drivers to things like traffic accidents, but some are questioning if the messages boards are utilized correctly.

When in use there is little doubt electronic messages boards like the one at I-40 and Wilshire Boulevard can serve a real purpose for drivers on the road, but one woman said the key is when they're working properly.

"If I hadn't gotten a phone call I would not have known," said Amy Stanley.

Stanley is referring to when she got stuck in traffic on I-40 near Sooner Road because of a semi that had overturned Friday afternoon. The accident caused authorities to shut down all lanes of traffic headed eastbound.

Stanley snapped a picture of an electronic message board designed to alert drivers about traffic issues that was blank. She said there's a good chance if the sign had information about the accident, hundreds of drivers stuck in traffic could have avoided the area all together.

"I see amber alerts, ozone alerts, seat belt signs but I never see any accidents and that would be really helpful especially for drivers during rush hour," said Stanley.

Terri Angier, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation which owns and almost always controls what is put on the signs, said they weren't called about Friday's incident. Angier said when it comes to events like traffic accidents, agencies like the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, rarely notify ODOT about the incident.

"It's not uncommon for them not to call us. I think sometimes if they feel like they have it under control with enough people. Normally, we get called in for traffic set-up, if that's not needed it's normal not to call us," Angier said.

But Stanley said based on the time she and others spent in traffic, the accident wasn't under control. These are frustrations ODOT understands, but cautions drivers to remember the electronic message boards are a fairly new system.

"It's gone very well actually the few years we've had it, but there's always going to be room for improvement," said ODOT's spokesperson.

When asked why they didn't call ODOT to use the electronic messages boards with Friday's accident, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said they felt they had enough troopers working the accident that they didn't feel it warranted using the signs.