AI tools should be used to make roads safer, governor’s association report says
Predictive analytics, such as the ones used by insurance companies for decades, should be part of state action plans to keep roadway users safe, says a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT).
“With more than 200,000 deaths on U.S. roads since 2020, the report presents one of the clearest cases yet for moving from reactive safety strategies to proactive ones powered by data and AI,” a press release for the report says. “As the report underscores, crashes can be both predicted and prevented with the right resources and data.”
Jonathan Adkins, GHSA’s chief executive officer, says in the release that the report is an action plan to prevent crashes.
“We have the tools to save thousands of lives,” Adkins said. “What we need now is action. The advanced analytics we outline are validated, predictive, and provide a level of foresight that past generations of safety leaders could only imagine. This is a call for government, community, and corporate leaders to work together to help us move boldly into a new era of road safety.”
Telematics Risk Analysis (TRA) measures patterns of risk on the road using physics and AI-based tools, the report says. It analyzes roadway behaviors, such as phone handling, speeding, hard braking, and aggressive cornering, as they happen. It then uses the information to form predictive safety indicators and assess risk.
This differs from traditional traffic safety systems that rely on historical trends, the report says.
“This allows officials to assess risk as it emerges, enabling them to spot dangerous conditions before they result in injuries or fatalities,” the press release says. “Proactive instead of reactive decision-making marks a fundamental shift in road safety strategy.”
For example, TRA found that drivers with the highest levels of phone distraction are 240% more likely to crash, high rates of hard braking are associated with 103% higher expected losses, and excessive speeding leads to a 71% increase in predicted losses.
Predictive risk tools are already being used to uncover solvable problems such as faded paint, poor signage, or obstructed sightlines, the release says.
“We have information that can help save lives now,” said Ryan McMahon, SVP of strategy for CMT, in the release. “By leveraging these proven insights, we can empower public agencies and private partners to intervene earlier, smarter, and more effectively, turning the promise of predictive analytics into the reality of safer roads for everyone.”
The report recommends that federal law and regulations should encourage state highway safety offices, Vision Zero programs, and roadway safety partners to integrate validated TRA and predictive tools into strategy development. It should also be used to guide timely and targeted interventions.
“Legislatures and governors should prioritize passing proven safety laws, such as unambiguous hands-free laws and stronger seat belt laws, coupled with public education campaigns to drive behavioral change,” the release says.
The report also recommends that Highway Safety Plans (HSPs) incorporate predictive analytics by measuring whether new laws, engineering changes, enforcement, or education campaigns are reducing risky behaviors and improving outcomes.
State highway safety offices should continue to deliver precise and effective safety strategies by using externally validated, aggregate risk indicators while preserving public trust and protecting personal rights, the report says.
Federal Surface Transportation Programs
While not mentioned in the report, the report’s recommendations come ahead of the expiration of the federal surface transportation programs on Sept. 30, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce recently separately requested comments from vehicle safety stakeholders prior to the expiration.
According to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it plans to have legislation in place before the current law expires. It started holding hearings to examine different aspects of highway, transit, and rail transportation programs in January.
The Energy and Commerce Committee accepted comments through Aug. 20.
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