A quiet change is happening on some of the Mother City‘s most crowded streets, where bright LED screens are doing more than just showing numbers, they are quietly influencing how drivers act.
The City of Cape Town has set up a system of smart speed signs aimed at encouraging drivers to reduce their speed as they go. So far, there are signs that this method is effective, as officials have observed positive changes in how drivers behave in important areas.
Ten of these digital speed feedback signs are now in place across the city, including stretches of High Level Road, Ocean View Drive and other high-traffic corridors.
The technology tracks the speed of passing vehicles and displays it instantly, prompting drivers to slow down when they exceed the limit, according to a detailed report by News24.
The early data is promising. On High Level Road in Sea Point, where the first two signs were installed, speeding dropped by 25% once the LED displays were activated.
Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas explained that the City measures behaviour before and after the signs are switched on.
For the first two weeks, the displays remain off while baseline speeds are recorded. Once activated, officials monitor how driving patterns shift.
‘We noticed a drop in the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit once the displays were switched on. We also noticed [by monitoring brake lights] how cars brake when they actually see the speed at which they are travelling, where the ‘slow down’ message is displayed,’ Quintas stated.
Research referenced to the US Department of Transportation in the report shows that similar signs have reduced average speeds by about 6.4km/h, with even small reductions linked to a meaningful drop in the risk of fatal pedestrian incidents.
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Since the first installations in mid-2023, as per the City, interest from communities has grown steadily. Requests for additional signs have come in from multiple wards, suggesting that residents are increasingly open to tech-driven traffic calming measures.
The current rollout includes locations such as Jip de Jager, Main Road, Beach Road and Victoria Road.
While the smart signs focus on awareness and behaviour change, the City is also exploring more advanced enforcement tools.
Plans to introduce AI-powered cameras are still on hold pending legal approval, but the concept has already been tested.
Kevin Jacobs, speaking on behalf of the City’s Traffic Services, said: ‘The City of Cape Town used an AI camera on a trial basis, to see how the technology could be of use in detecting offences like crossing solid white lines, motor vehicle occupants not wearing seatbelts or using their cellphones while driving’.
‘At this time there is no plan for a rollout of AI cameras; however, we cannot discount the possibility that AI will play a bigger role in this, and other means of enforcement in the future,’ he added.
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Picture: Rob Quintas/Facebook
