AI Innovations Transforming Road Safety: New Technologies as Eyes on Roads

As America's aging roads deteriorate, cities and states are leveraging artificial intelligence to identify road hazards and prioritize repairs. In Hawaii, officials are distributing one thousand dashboard cameras to automate inspections of guardrails, road signs, and pavement markings.

This initiative, part of the Eyes on the Road campaign, aims to tackle a recent spike in traffic fatalities by quickly discerning between minor issues and emergencies requiring immediate attention. Richard Browning, chief commercial officer at Nextbase, emphasizes that this approach offers a continuous assessment rather than a monthly review.

In San Jose, California, the city has successfully mounted cameras on street sweepers, achieving a 97% accuracy rate in identifying potholes. This has prompted plans to extend the technology to parking enforcement vehicles.

Meanwhile, Texas has initiated a comprehensive AI strategy incorporating both cameras and cellphone data from participating drivers to enhance roadway safety. Other states are similarly deploying AI for inspecting street signs and compiling annual road congestion reports.

The initiative in Hawaii, facilitated by Roger Chen from the University of Hawaii, aims to maintain the state's outdated infrastructure amidst unique challenges posed by geography and logistics. Mark Pittman, CEO of Blyncsy, highlights the program's ongoing analysis of guardrails, driven by the urgent need to address safety risks, especially following incidents like the 2020 tragedy involving a damaged guardrail.

The report noted that Hawaii recorded 106 traffic fatalities in 2025, surpassing the total for 2024, underscoring the urgency of proactive measures. In San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan advocates for a shared AI database among cities to enhance the system's effectiveness by recognizing and addressing road problems across different regions.

Companies like Cambridge Mobile Telematics are also utilizing cellphone data to identify risky driving behaviors, which can lead to infrastructure improvements, like trimming obstructive bushes near stop signs.

In Texas, StreetVision has been instrumental in identifying areas with outdated street signs. Jim Markham from the Texas Department of Transportation remarks on the efficiency that AI brings in scanning extensive lane miles, allowing for quicker identification of maintenance needs.

Experts believe current AI-based road safety solutions are paving the way for a future with widespread autonomous vehicles, with Pittman predicting that nearly all new cars will be equipped with cameras within eight years.

The ongoing development of AI infrastructure aims to cater to both human drivers and automated systems, highlighting the necessity for adaptable road safety strategies.