New INFORMS Management Science Study Key Takeaways:
- A city using AI-powered traffic cameras can prevent hundreds of accidents and injuries annually through smarter violation detection and monitoring at key road intersections.
- AI-based traffic enforcement improves driver behavior both at and around monitored intersections, creating lasting and widespread safety benefits.
- Unlike traditional systems, AI-powered enforcement does not simply shift accidents elsewhere – they reduce risks systemwide without unintended negative consequences.
BALTIMORE, MD, May 20, 2025 – As cities worldwide seek effective strategies to address rising traffic fatalities, a new study published in the INFORMS journal Management Science reveals AI-powered traffic cameras offer a breakthrough solution – not only catching violations, but meaningfully improving overall road safety.
“Our study shows that AI-powered traffic cameras don’t just document violations – they promote safer driving behavior and significantly reduce accidents, even in nearby areas without cameras,” says Zhi (Aaron) Cheng, at the London School of Economics.
The study, “Automated Enforcement and Traffic Safety,” conducted by Cheng, alongside researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, finds that advanced cameras using artificial intelligence and continuous video recording can reduce traffic accidents far more effectively than conventional enforcement systems.
Analyzing data from a major metropolitan city in China, the researchers estimated that citywide deployment of AI-enabled cameras could have prevented approximately 1,190 accidents, 496 injuries or fatalities, and nearly $1 million in property losses per year. Importantly, the study found that the safety improvements did not merely shift accidents to nearby intersections – a common concern with older traffic enforcement technologies.
Three main factors explain the success of AI-powered enforcement:
- Smarter detection of a broader range of unsafe driving behaviors.
- Real-time video recording that supports more accurate accident investigations.
- Behavioral deterrence, encouraging drivers to adopt safer habits even outside monitored zones.
“Traffic safety is a persistent and complex challenge,” says Min-Seok Pang at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “Our findings offer evidence that carefully deployed AI technologies can create real, systemwide improvements without unintended negative consequences.”
With U.S. traffic fatalities remaining stubbornly high in recent years, the study offers timely insights for policymakers, transportation agencies and urban planners seeking data-driven, AI-powered solutions to save lives and improve public safety.
About INFORMS and Management Science
INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. Management Science, a leading journal published by INFORMS, publishes quantitative research on management practices across organizations. INFORMS empowers its community to improve organizational performance and drive data-driven decision-making through its journals, conferences and resources. Learn more at www.informs.org or @informs.
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