Official: South Dakota Road Alert System Working Well

TRIPP, S.D. (AP) — A system aiming to improve safety at rural intersections appears to be working in southeastern South Dakota.

The Daily Republic reports that the intersection of South Dakota Highways 37 and 46 was the first in the state to get a Rural Intersection Conflict Warning System.

The $150,000 system is similar to a regular traffic signal and has a flashing light alerting drivers of oncoming traffic. Officials say the goal is to help drivers' reaction time.

Officials say the intersection about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tripp has only had one right-angle crash and no fatal collisions since the system was installed in August 2017.

Mark Leiferman is the program manager for project development at the state Transportation Department. He says the system's results have generally been good, though more research needs to be done.

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