Riga deploys advanced traffic monitoring to boost road safety

The Latvian capital, Riga, is installing new traffic monitoring equipment at 26 of its most congested intersections. The new technology combines high-resolution cameras with machine vision and edge computing to detect traffic rule infringements. It enables the evaluation of offences such as running a red light, illegally using the public transport lane, or stopping at an intersection where prohibited. The information is forwarded to the Riga Municipal Policy and Road Traffic Safety Directorate, which decides on the offence and the penalty to be imposed. 

The new monitoring technology is capable of object detection, classification and tracking, in addition to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). The use of edge computing allows for easy installation, requiring only an electricity supply, as data is processed locally and transmitted to the servers via existing mobile network coverage. 

Juris Lūkass, chief of the Riga Municipal Police, said “The main aim of traffic monitoring devices is to improve road safety, which is why they are installed at high-traffic intersections with a significant number of dangerous manoeuvres. We hope that [the] solution will help us significantly improve the overall driving culture and reduce the number of traffic accidents in Riga.”

The first batch of the new monitoring technology has already been installed on Riga's roads.

Author: Claus Köllinger

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.