AI, Real-Time Data and Smart Detection Tools Push Roadway Safety From Reactive to Predictive

Technology is increasingly reshaping how agencies approach roadway safety — shifting the industry from reacting to crash to preventing them in the first place. From predictive risk modeling to real-time traffic analytics and AI-powered work-zone inspection tools, new platforms are helping departments of transportation identify threats earlier and respond faster.

Nexar Introduces Risk Index to Help Insurers and DOTs Predict Road Risk Before Crashes Happen

Nexar has introduced the Nexar Risk Index, a predictive analytics tool designed to help insurers and DOTs identify high-risk corridors before collisions occur.  

Powered by Nexar Atlas — the company’s real-world mobility data engine — the Risk Index analyzes billions of miles of crowdsourced video. The platform flags behavioral risk signals such as hard braking, instability events and near misses, layering that data over traditional crash statistics, according to a Nexar press release.

Historically, road safety strategies have relied heavily on crash reports and claims data — meaning agencies respond after serious incidents happen. Nexar’s approach shifts that model, combining real-time behavioral insights with historical data to help agencies proactively target problem corridors and guide infrastructure investments.

Real Time Transportation Data Helps States Drive Analysis

Meanwhile, INRIX is providing real-time transportation data to state agencies, including the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

In Ohio, ODOT uses live vehicle-speed data to determine when traffic conditions normalize following snow and ice events, according to reporting from Government Technology. The agency also incorporates INRIX data into its Traffic Operations Assessment Tool (TOAST), which ranks major corridors by speed, travel time and crash performance to support transportation management strategies.  

In Pennsylvania, PennDOT leverages INRIX’s real-time speed data as part of a queue protection system spanning 23 corridors. The system pushes live alerts through dynamic message signs to warn motorists of upcoming congestion.  According to Government Technology, the roadside warning signs have reduced crashes by 11% and fatal truck crashes by 46%.

This startup veteran’s new roadway safety tool turns any smartphone into a work-zone inspector

Work-zone safety is also getting a technology upgrade.

ZoneSure, a mobile application launched in late 2025, transforms smartphones into work-zone compliance inspectors aligned with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, according to Smartland News.

Using machine learning and AI, the app identifies safety deficiencies and noncompliance issues within a work zone and provides corrective guidance to bring the site into alignment with federal standards. The tool aims to modernize work-zone oversight by enabling faster, field-based evaluations.

FDOT expands wrong-way driver technology to reduce fatal crashes

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is expanding another technology-driven safety measure: wrong-way driver detection systems.  

FDOT has deployed specialized detection technology on 115 highway ramps statewide. Using radar, cameras and sensors, the system detects vehicles entering ramps in the wrong direction and immediately triggers flashing warning signs to alert drivers. Simultaneously, notifications are sent to law enforcement with the vehicle’s location and direction of travel.

Approximately 25% of wrong-way highway crashes result in fatalities, and 59% involve alcohol impairment — underscoring the importance of early detection and rapid response.