Hajj Road Safety: Saudi Arabia’s AI Inspection Fleet
Saudi Arabia is revolutionizing Hajj road safety with its new AI inspection fleet. The world’s largest fleet utilizes cutting-edge technology to ensure the safety and smooth travel of pilgrims. High-tech units scan for surface damage, measure road roughness, and assess pavement layers, allowing for proactive maintenance. This initiative aims to dramatically reduce road fatalities. Explore how this advanced system, which boasts leading intercity road connectivity, integrates AI to enhance infrastructure and improve safety. News Directory 3 has the latest updates on this initiative and the country’s aspiring goals for the future. Discover what’s next in road safety advancements.
Saudi Arabia Deploys AI Road Inspection Fleet for Hajj Pilgrimage
Updated June 06, 2025
Saudi Arabia is enhancing its preparations for this year’s Hajj season by launching the world’s largest and moast advanced AI-powered road inspection fleet. The Saudi Roads General Authority (RGA) is deploying 18 high-tech units equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to improve road safety, enhance road quality, and ensure a smooth experience for pilgrims.
The fleet features specialized equipment designed to scan surface damage, measure the International Roughness Index (IRI), assess pavement layer thickness, evaluate structural deflection, and test skid resistance. Seven surface damage scanners use high-resolution cameras, laser units, GPS, and data storage systems for precise analysis and immediate maintenance decisions, particularly on routes leading to the holy sites.
Four IRI units utilize laser sensors to evaluate road smoothness and driving comfort.Three additional units employ multi-frequency radar to check pavement layer thickness, while another three measure road deflection under traffic loads using advanced sensor systems. A single skid resistance unit simulates rainy conditions to test friction levels, ensuring safety in adverse weather.
Completing the fleet is a mobile digital imaging scanner that inspects unpaved elements, such as road signs and safety barriers.This scanner assists in identifying potential risks and optimizing maintenance planning, contributing to overall road safety and efficiency.
The Roads General Authority aims to elevate the quality of roads to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world’s leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000 kilometers.
What’s next
The Roads General Authority will continue to monitor and analyze data collected by the AI-powered fleet to proactively address road maintenance needs and further enhance the safety and quality of roads throughout Saudi Arabia.