Road transport is the most prone to accidents, resulting in significant fatalities and injuries. It also faces a plethora of never-ending problems, such as the frequent loss of lives and valuables during an accident. Appropriate actions need to be taken to address these problems, such as the establishment of an automatic incident detection system using artificial intelligence and machine learning. This article explores the overview of artificial intelligence and machine learning in facilitating automatic incident detector systems to decrease road accidents. The study examines the critical problems and potential remedies for reducing road traffic accidents and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in road transportation systems. More, new, and emerging trends that reduce frequent accidents in the transportation sector are discussed extensively. Specifically, the study organized the following sub-topics: an incident detector with machine learning and artificial intelligence and road management with machine learning and artificial intelligence. Additionally, safety is the primary concern of road transport; the internet of vehicles and vehicle ad hoc networks, including the use of wireless communication technologies such as 5G wireless networks and the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence for road transportation systems planning, are elaborated. Key findings from the review indicate that route optimization, cargo volume forecasting, predictive fleet maintenance, real-time vehicle tracking, and traffic management are critical to safeguarding road transportation systems. Finally, the paper summarizes the challenges facing the application of artificial intelligence in road transport systems, highlights the research trends, identifies the unresolved questions, and highlights the essential research takeaways. The work can serve as reference material for road transport system planning and management.