Cape Town trials AI cameras to enforce seatbelt and phone use laws

New AI technology is on the cards that will detect motorists who text while drive. The City of Cape Town has confirmed it is trialling AI-powered cameras that detect motorists who violate these laws. The system, tested on a trial basis, can automatically identify common traffic violations, including failure to wear a seatbelt, cellphone use while driving, and crossing solid white lines.

According to Traffic Services spokesperson Kevin Jacobs, the City is exploring how the technology could support enforcement, but there are currently no plans to roll it out. “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 enforcement in the future,” he said. Fines SA – an online platform designed to help motorists, businesses, and fleets check, manage, and pay traffic fines across over 250 municipalities in South Africa – said the development marks a broader shift in how road safety will be managed in the country: from reactive, human-led enforcement to automated, always-on compliance monitoring.

“This is a significant moment for road safety in South Africa. AI doesn’t get tired, it doesn’t get distracted, and it doesn’t negotiate at the roadside. It simply records the offence,” said Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA.

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“Compliance becomes less about avoiding roadblocks and more about consistently following the rules.” According to Fines SA, historically, enforcement has relied heavily on visible policing, roadblocks, and officer discretion. AI-driven monitoring changes that dynamic entirely.

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