(FOX 9) – Police efforts to reduce fatal crashes on Highway 7, from St. Louis Park to St. Bonifacius, are showing promising results, with enhanced law enforcement thanks to AI technology credited with helping eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.
Police use AI technology to arrest lawbreakers and reduce deaths
What we know:
The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department and neighboring law enforcement agencies are using a large orange trailer equipped with AI to detect distracted drivers and those not wearing seat belts. The technology captures photos of violations and sends them to officers within seconds.
In addition, police launched a social media campaign and asked high school students to produce public service announcements on road safety.
Over the past year, officers conducted more than 1,500 checks for these violations, representing a 300 percent increase from the previous year.
What they say:
Sgt. Adam Moore with the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department said, “We can actually see the phone in the hand, and that’s the key to us knowing we’re making a good stop.” »
“It’s harder to find a speeding driver because we enforce these rules,” he said. “We’re not seeing as many distracted drivers as we used to. So we’re definitely seeing those impacts every day.”
Highway 7 fatal accidents eliminated in 2025
In figures:
Five people have died in crashes along Highway 7 in 2024, police said. But there were no deaths on this stretch of road last year. (Historically, the highway has averaged one or two fatal crashes each year, police said.) Additionally, crashes causing serious injuries have also been cut in half, from an average of six per year to three.
The Highway 7 Safety Coalition, which includes more than a half-dozen law enforcement agencies from St. Louis Park to Minnetrista, is working to secure more funding after the initial $451,000 grant ran out in June.
What’s next:
Moore said he hopes additional funds to continue strengthening law enforcement are imminent.
