AI-Enabled Roadway Curve Safety Assessment and Improvement

Bartow, Paulding, and Gwinnett counties are collaborating with Safe Road Solutions, a Georgia Tech–affiliated startup, to pilot an AI-powered roadway safety assessment system designed to effectively identify and apply proven safety countermeasures on horizontal curves — among the deadliest segments in the transportation network. Horizontal curves account for only 5% of roadway mileage yet contribute to nearly 25% of fatal crashes nationwide. The counties have identified curve safety as a priority within their Vision Zero and roadway safety action plans. These pilot targets selected corridors to identify curve sign upgrades, verify advisory speeds, and modernize roadway geometry data to enhance overall safety.

This project deploys a low-cost, smartphone-based system that leverages inertial sensors, GPS data, computer vision, and vehicle-kinetic modeling to automatically compute advisory speeds, detect curve signage, and identify deficiencies relative to MUTCD standards. The system dramatically reduces the labor- and time-intensive process currently required to assess curve safety using manual Ball Bank Indicator methods. Instead of months or years of fieldwork, counties can evaluate curves in hours or days using existing fleet vehicles, enabling frequent monitoring and rapid, data-driven interventions.

Working with local engineers, the research team will generate GIS-based curve inventories, geolocated sign datasets, and targeted safety improvement plans tailored to high-risk corridors. Through hands-on demonstrations, county site visits, and co-design sessions, the pilot will refine the technology for real-world deployment and build capacity for long-term, proactive roadway safety management.

By bridging the gap between research and real-world application, this pilot study positions Bartow, Paulding, and Gwinnett Counties to pioneer the deployment of innovative safety solutions, including 1) accelerated safety improvement assessment and 2) application of cost-effective countermeasures (e.g. advisory speed & MUTCD curve signs) in a timely manner. This approach empowers counties to move beyond traditional methods and to integrate AI-driven monitoring into their broader transportation safety strategies — advancing progress toward a future with fewer crashes and safer roadways for all.