Drivers on the Firenze-Pisa-Livorno (Fi-Pi-Li) highway may soon be watched by a new generation of traffic cameras powered by artificial intelligence.
A 90-day trial has begun on one of Tuscany’s busiest roads to test an AI-enabled camera system capable of automatically detecting some of the most common traffic offences. During the pilot phase, the technology will collect data only, with no penalties issued to motorists.
The project has been authorized by the Metropolitan City of Florence, which manages the Fi-Pi-Li expressway. Officials will use the three-month testing period, which can be renewed once, to assess the system’s accuracy and reliability before deciding whether it could eventually be introduced as part of routine traffic enforcement.
The camera has been installed on a steel gantry spanning the carriageway near Lastra a Signa. From this position it monitors traffic in both directions, towards Florence and towards the coast.
Using high-resolution cameras and artificial intelligence, the system is designed to identify drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel. It can also detect whether the driver and front-seat passenger are wearing seatbelts, while automatic number plate recognition allows it to check whether a vehicle has valid insurance and an up-to-date roadworthiness inspection.
The cameras operate 24 hours a day and are equipped with infrared technology, allowing them to capture clear images even at night or in poor lighting conditions.
For the duration of the trial, however, the cameras will not send reports of detected offences to the police and no automatic fines will be issued. Instead, the focus will be on measuring how accurately the AI identifies potential violations and how well it performs under high traffic volumes.
The technology has been developed by Tuscany-based traffic monitoring company Sodi Scientifica, which has already tested similar systems on municipal and provincial roads.
