Driving in an active environment can put a damper on your day, especially if you’re busy. Traffic slows down, which can cause delays, and you often have to navigate narrow streets, one-lane roads, sudden lane shifts, and the proximity of both heavy equipment and construction workers. All these factors together sometimes create a dangerous situation. According to the CDC, there were approximately 96,000 accidents in active workplaces in 2022, resulting in approximately 37,000 injuries and 891 deaths. Of those who died, 105 were workers.
To reduce the risk of an accident, drivers often see warning signs indicating an active work area ahead. The speed limit is lowered, and flags may be in place to help direct traffic. Distracted driving is dangerous anywhere, anytime, but it can be especially dangerous in workplaces. As of 2026, 33 states and Washington, DC have enacted “touchless” laws, prohibiting drivers from holding their phones while driving. This includes changing map settings, tapping to answer your phone, and often raising a red light. Some states are turning to AI, or artificial intelligence, to crack down on drivers who break the rules, including Arkansas, where it’s illegal to touch your phone while on the job with highway crews.
It’s a tough law to enforce, but the state has installed motionless cameras at two work zones on Interstates 49 and 57. To help catch violators of the no touch law, the state is using AI to analyze images, looking for cellphones in the hands of drivers.
AI assistance in law enforcement
The Arkansas program is new and launched in January 2026. To ensure accuracy, AI-tagged information is shared with Arkansas Highway Police officers at the scene, and they pull over a flagged vehicle to check for suspected violations. Fines are never issued automatically based on artificial intelligence alone, and a police officer is required to verify and issue a warning or fine. Additionally, signs have been placed to warn drivers about the cameras before they enter the guarded areas.
Of course, AI is a touchy and complex topic, and the use of this technology has raised privacy concerns. Critics worry that Arkansas police aren’t following up on false positives, where AI flags phone use that isn’t true. There are also questions about how the video can be used, although state officials maintain that any footage not needed in court is removed.
Arkansas isn’t the only state turning to AI for law enforcement and road safety. In Utah, law enforcement is using a license plate recognition system similar to the one already used in California to track and locate potential violators. The technology can also identify vehicles based on description and, according to police, help them avoid unnecessary stops. However, critics are concerned about how much information the system stores and the dangers of so-called mass surveillance. Other states are using AI in less controversial ways, such as Hawaii’s dashboard cam giveaway, which uses AI to check guardrails and other potential problems on the road from cameras installed in the cars of willing drivers.