Local police departments in Minnesota are partnering with state officials to launch a new road safety initiative that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help prevent crashes before they happen.
The Sartell and St. Cloud police departments are working with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota State Patrol on a pilot program that combines historical crash data with real-time AI-driven analytics.
The goal is to direct patrol efforts more effectively by identifying areas with heightened crash risk.
“This is going to help us understand ahead of time the factors that lead to a crash so we can implement countermeasures to prevent it,” said Mike Hanson, director of the state’s Office of Traffic Safety, in a statement.
Brandon Silgjord, Sartell public safety director said the program enables targeted patrols in high-risk areas, improving officer visibility and reducing the likelihood of crashes.
The Sartell-St. Cloud area was selected for its geographic diversity, with a mix of urban and rural roads across multiple counties. Officials say testing the technology in a complex region will help refine the model before a broader statewide rollout.
No new infrastructure is needed, as the data is already available to participating agencies.
Source: WJON.com, GHSA.com
