North Carolina Deploys 2,500 AI-Based Traffic Signals

The signals use AI to collect data and help traffic engineers make decisions and implement changes more quickly and effectively.

1 minute read

July 31, 2025, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of traffic in a large intersection in North Carolina.

Traffic in a North Carolina intersection. | North Carolina Department of Transportation / NCDOT

North Carolina launched the nation’s largest deployment of AI-based traffic signals, which the state hopes will improve operations and road safety. “The North Carolina Department of Transportation deployed 2,500 AI-based traffic signals at intersections across the state, according to a July 7 news release from Flow Labs, a transportation technology company.” 

As Dan Zukowski notes in Smart Cities Dive, the software is not being used for real-time traffic management as of yet, but will provide data that can help traffic engineers understand how to improve operations faster based on real traffic patterns. “Engineers can now detect issues before they escalate, prioritize interventions based on real-world traffic patterns, and improve signal operations without relying on field studies, hardware deployments, or infrastructure changes.”

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Smart Cities Dive

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