Technology
Las Vegas activates AI crosswalk cameras to detect pedestrian body language and expressions
A new pilot program uses specialized cameras to illuminate pedestrians, though safety advocates question the effectiveness of lighting alone.
The short version
- Las Vegas launched a pilot program in mid-August utilizing an AI camera system called SecurOS Soffit at 16 intersections.
- The system analyzed body movements and facial expressions to identify when a pedestrian intends to cross, automatically illuminating them as they walk.
- Safety experts and federal guidelines indicate that lighting alone does not address primary causes of pedestrian fatalities, such as speed and distraction, which typically require physical infrastructure changes.
Key facts
- The SecurOS Soffit AI camera system, developed by Intelligent Security Systems (ISS), was activated at 16 Las Vegas intersections in mid-August.[Jalopnik]
- The technology analyzes body language and facial expressions to determine if a pedestrian wants to cross, and then illuminates them as they traverse the crosswalk.[Jalopnik]
- Las Vegas is the third city to implement an ISS pilot program, joining Dublin, Ohio, and Kodiak, Alaska.[Jalopnik]
- Organizations like the Federal Highway Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety emphasize physical separation measures, such as sidewalks, barriers, and refuge islands, as the most effective ways to reduce pedestrian deaths.[Jalopnik]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unclear what data collection practices ISS employs for these cameras and whether facial data scanned by the system is stored or shared.[Jalopnik]