The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada has completed a new pilot program to study if artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve transportation safety.
RTC said that the pilot analyzed data from eight busy intersections to understand traffic patterns and trends and identify potential safety hazards. During the six-month pilot program, the AI technology collected traffic data, including the number of vehicles and pedestrians passing through intersections. It also detected safety issues like speeding, red-light running, vehicles traveling outside their lane, near-miss incidents, and pedestrians crossing against traffic signals or outside of marked crosswalks.
According to RTC, at just one intersection over a seven-day period, there were 1,411 red-light running incidents, 257 pedestrian crossings outside marked crosswalks, 512 lane violations, and even one near miss between a car and a person.
With the data in mind, the RTC said the pilot program results show that AI technology can effectively monitor and analyze traffic data to provide insights for traffic engineers. Using existing traffic signal cameras, RTC said it can easily implement this technology at other intersections throughout the Las Vegas valley.
RTC explained that the insights gained from the AI technologies will play a crucial role in shaping future traffic safety, operational, and capacity improvements. It noted that the insights will inform educational campaigns, guide engineering solutions, and help target enforcement efforts to reduce accidents and improve overall safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
