Israel Tests AI System to Automatically Count Vehicle Passengers for Faster Traffic Flow

The Israeli Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety has launched a pioneering pilot program testing an artificial intelligence system designed to automatically verify the number of passengers in a vehicle without requiring the car to stop. The trial is taking place on the high-speed lane at Shapirim and aims to address congestion challenges on heavily used lanes in Israel and globally.

Developed by COMPIE Technologies, the system uses a smartphone app installed on the driver’s phone, employing advanced AI algorithms and video processing to scan and accurately count passengers. It can also detect fraud attempts by cross-referencing trip start and end data. Currently, toll exemptions for high-speed lanes require physical passenger counts that cause delays, but this new technology promises continuous movement without stopping.

The pilot follows an initial 2024 trial and will test approximately 1,300 scenarios involving various passenger types, vehicles, lighting conditions, and fraud attempts. The independent company Magal oversees the trial to ensure reliability. Success criteria include over 95% accuracy in passenger detection and strong fraud prevention capabilities.

Transportation Minister Merav Regev emphasized that this innovation could revolutionize traffic management and reduce congestion, placing Israel at the forefront of global transport innovation. Ministry CEO Moshe Ben Zaken highlighted the potential for smoother travel experiences and more efficient lane management. Guy Loyan, acting CEO of Cross-Israel Highway, noted the trial as a significant step toward smarter, faster, and more efficient road use.

If successful, the system could enable expanded use of high-occupancy lanes, shorten travel times, improve public service, and mark a global breakthrough in managing and enforcing these lanes more effectively.