Each year, more than 7,000 pedestrians lose their lives on U.S. roads—a sobering statistic now driving cities, counties and states to deploy technology with integrated artificial intelligence (AI) in the fight for roadside safety.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data reveals an average of one pedestrian is injured in a traffic collision every eight minutes. Since 2009, pedestrian deaths have surged 78%. While the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reported a 4.3% decrease in 2024 pedestrian fatalities from the previous year, the mortality rate was still 20% higher than in 2016.
In response, the Vision Zero strategy, first adopted in Sweden in 1997, has gained traction globally, including in more than 40 U.S. cities, counties and regions. The approach acknowledges human error and emphasizes designing road infrastructure and policies to prevent fatalities—creating a “safe system” that anticipates human error.
Cities and transportation agencies are increasingly turning to AI as a solution to enhance pedestrian safety. AI vision centers detect pedestrians and proactively manage traffic flow by using edge-based sensors that process live video to identify pedestrians and vehicle movements. Even in low light or poor weather, the sensors trigger real-time responses such as adaptive signal timing, alerts to drivers or traffic operators and data for planning safer crossings.
California
Officials in San Jose, California, have implemented a pilot project to test AI vision centers as part of the city’s Vision Zero plan. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) is using the AI platform to replace short-term data surveys with continuous, high-accuracy monitoring of traffic. These monitors include counts, speeds and travel directions, as well as pedestrian and bicycle activity. This system has exceeded 95% accuracy in directional tracking, giving city officials richer, more reliable insights for shaping safer infrastructure and smarter traffic planning.
Colorado
Similarly, in Lakewood, Colorado, edge-based vision sensors focus on high-risk intersections and mid-block corridors, detecting both vehicle and pedestrian activity in real time. This initiative supports the city’s Vision Zero goal by reducing collisions and near-misses. The project is part of a broader effort in the state to protect the public through AI-based enforcement strategies. Colorado DOT is also expanding the use of speed cameras to issue automated tickets on Highway 119 in Boulder County this fall.
Nevada
Las Vegas is also embracing tech with a $1.4 million grant for a pilot program targeting safety in its tourist corridor. The city received federal funding to install cameras that “talk” to traffic cameras at 16 intersections along the bustling five-block Fremont Street corridor. The technology is programmed to detect people waiting to cross and adjust both traffic signal timings and flashing beacons in real time, based on pedestrian volumes and walking speed, to give pedestrians more time to cross safely.
Florida
Echoing the Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities, the city of Sarasota, Florida, recently earned a Smart 20 Award—an international honor from Smart Cities Connect—for its holistic Smart City Initiative. Combining AI-powered pedestrian-safety monitoring, the project exemplifies how cities can implement technology to protect residents on multiple fronts.
National Efforts
In addition to local initiatives, federal efforts are underway to enhance pedestrian safety. NHTSA announced last year plans to require automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in all new cars by September 2029, with a goal of saving 360 lives and 24,000 injuries each year.
While these advancements reflect a collective shift toward integrating AI and automation into infrastructure to improve pedestrian safety, challenges persist. Concerns over privacy, funding, legal enforcement and equity remain at the forefront. In West Palm Beach, Florida, sensors monitoring pedestrians and vehicles stirred public unease over video recording of public safety. In Reno, Nevada, a $450,000 AI-powered license plate reader pilot led to backlash over privacy and concerns over misuse.
High costs pose an obstacle as installing smart sensors and upgrading network infrastructure can be expensive. A PR market research analysis estimates installation of 500 pedestrian monitoring systems in a mid-size city would cost over $1 million for installation, followed by additional costs for power, high-resolution video feeds, software updates, hardware repairs and performance optimization.
Ensuring that these innovations serve all communities fairly and transparently is essential for achieving the Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities. As cities continue to explore and adopt AI-driven safety measures, ongoing dialogue and thoughtful policymaking will be crucial in navigating these challenges.
Photo by Charles Parker from Pexels
