HC asks if AI cameras installed on roads across State can track overspeeding vehicles

The Karnataka High Court has issued a directive asking the state government to provide detailed information about vehicles that have been recorded traveling at speeds above 150 kilometres per hour. The request follows a petition that highlighted the presence of artificial‑intelligence enabled cameras on major highways, which are capable of capturing speed data in real time. The court wants to know how many such incidents have been logged, what actions have been taken against the drivers, and whether the data is being stored for future reference.

Speeding above 150 km per hour is a serious safety concern on Indian roads, where traffic density and mixed vehicle types increase the likelihood of severe collisions. Studies by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have shown that high‑speed crashes account for a disproportionate share of fatalities each year. The AI cameras installed along the state’s arterial routes are designed to automatically record license plates and speed, creating a digital trail that can be used for enforcement. However, without a centralised monitoring hub, each district processes the data separately, leading to delays and inconsistencies in issuing penalties.

In response, the state government has been asked to outline a timetable for establishing a unified monitoring centre that can receive feeds from all AI cameras and coordinate enforcement actions across districts. Officials indicated that the system could be operational within six to twelve months, provided that the required software upgrades and staff training are completed. If implemented effectively, the central hub could reduce the number of high‑speed violations, lower accident rates, and generate revenue that can be reinvested in road maintenance, a matter of direct interest to commuters throughout India.