In Northern Cyprus, AI cameras will initially only record speeding violations

The Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ünal Üstel, announced that the new road monitoring cameras with artificial intelligence elements, installed across the territory, will initially be used only to record speeding violations. Other functions — such as detecting drivers without seat belts, mobile phone use, missing documents, or driving under the influence of alcohol — are under evaluation and will be implemented later.

Üstel emphasized that the government plans to implement the system gradually:

> “Initially, only the speed control function will be active. Other types of checks, including seat belts, phones, and documents, will be introduced after additional analysis and testing,” the Prime Minister noted.

Earlier, the Minister of Transport, Erhan Arıklı, clarified that the cameras do not record continuously, but are activated only at the moment a violation is detected. The data collected is automatically transmitted to the POL-NET system, where specific drivers and vehicles are registered. According to the minister, the devices can detect violations at a distance of up to one kilometer.

As part of a cooperation agreement with Turkey, 150 smart cameras have been installed in Northern Cyprus — 130 stationary and 20 mobile. The system is currently undergoing testing, after which gradual implementation and issuance of fines will begin.

The government emphasizes that the introduction of artificial intelligence into road monitoring aims to improve road safety and reduce accidents, especially those related to speeding, which remains one of the main causes of traffic accidents on the island.