Israel Launches AI Pilot to Automatically Detect Car Occupancy in High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

The Israeli Ministry of Transport and Road Safety has initiated a groundbreaking pilot program to test an artificial intelligence system that automatically verifies the number of passengers in vehicles using high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. The pilot, conducted in collaboration with Netivei Israel, the Shapirim HOV lane operator, and technology firms including COMPIE Technologies, aims to address longstanding enforcement challenges on these lanes, which are reserved for vehicles with two or more occupants.

Currently, drivers must stop for manual passenger counts to qualify for toll exemptions on HOV lanes, a process that slows traffic and complicates enforcement. The new system uses a smartphone app installed on the driver’s phone, employing the phone’s camera and advanced AI algorithms to scan and count passengers in real time without stopping. It can also detect fraudulent attempts by cross-referencing data from the start to the end of the trip.

The pilot follows an initial trial earlier in 2024 and will test approximately 1,300 scenarios, including different vehicle types, lighting conditions, and deliberate fraud attempts. An independent external company is overseeing the evaluation, which requires over 95% accuracy in passenger detection and robust fraud identification. Success could lead to widespread adoption across Israel’s congested roadways, improving traffic flow, encouraging carpooling, and reducing congestion.

Transport Minister Miri Regev highlighted the initiative’s potential to revolutionize traffic management and enforcement, stating, "Israel is at the forefront of transportation innovation. If proven effective, this technology will enable smarter enforcement and promote shared rides to alleviate road congestion." The Ministry and partners emphasize that integrating AI into lane management could transform the driving experience by enabling smoother, more efficient use of existing infrastructure.