Abstract: An electrically controlled safety mechanism for a highway exit ramp for detecting vehicle movement in the wrong direction, including a series of electrically controlled detection devices provided within the roadway, a warning member and support housing for the mechanism located adjacent to the roadway, and some distance beyond the road bed located detection devices, the warning member of the housing being pivotally mounted with respect to its base and capable of disposition in a nonoperative vertical position, but pivotal into a horizontal position when the detection devices sense the presence of a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction, a motor, brake, and speed reducer associated with the housing, for operation of the warning member, and for initiating its pivotal movements, the circuitry of this device including time operative electrical relay and electrical controller relays connected together for providing timed operations to the said motor and related mechanisms, so that the warning member will be con

Abstract: In a safety mechanism for highway exit ramp, dual motions are provided in the structural operation of the mechanism wherein a warning member, such as a length of barrier or semaphore, is pivotally mounted between an upright position and into a horizontal and cautioning disposition across the roadway, but in addition, the warning member itself is horizontally pivotal in the event that a moving vehicle should strike the same. The mechanism includes a detection member, such as either a protruding device capable of being pivoted by the vehicle passing thereover, or an electronic detecting device as provided in the roadbed of the ramp and when encountered by a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction disengages a detent that releases a spring mounted rack that turns its pinion for pivoting the warning device across the roadway.