AI on the Road: How Tech is Fixing Our Crumbling Highways

Across the country, states are using artificial intelligence to tackle road safety issues. This tech helps spot problems like potholes and damaged guardrails, making repairs faster and more efficient. In Hawaii, officials are giving away free dashboard cameras to drivers. These cameras use AI to check guardrails, road signs, and pavement markings. The goal is to reduce traffic fatalities, which have been rising. The state had 106 deaths in 2025, more than the previous year. The cameras can tell the difference between minor issues and serious problems that need immediate attention. This means maintenance crews can be sent out right away. The program is especially important in Hawaii, where shipping equipment and dealing with tough terrain make road maintenance challenging. San Jose, California, has also seen success with AI. By mounting cameras on street sweepers and parking enforcement vehicles, the city identified potholes with 97% accuracy. They are now expanding this effort to more vehicles. Texas, with the most roadway lane miles in the U. S. , is using AI cameras and cellphone data to improve safety. This helps them spot old street signs that need replacement. AI makes it easier to find and fix these issues quickly. Not all AI solutions require cameras. Cambridge Mobile Telematics uses cellphone data to identify risky driving behavior. This helps pinpoint specific road conditions that cause dangers. For example, a bush blocking a stop sign was found using this system. The solution? A simple pair of garden shears. Experts believe AI is just the beginning. In the future, almost every new vehicle, whether driven or driverless, will come with a camera. This will make roads even safer.