Cape Town: The Urban Mobility Directorate of the City of Cape Town continues to install Smart Speed Signs (SSS) on request from wards across Cape Town. The City has noticed a 25% reduction in vehicles that exceeds the speed limit at some of the locations where these signs have been installed.
Currently, there are 10 smart speed signs in Cape Town and another four are in the planning process. The City’s Transport Network Technology team implements the roll-out of these signs on request from wards who fund these.
The smart speed signs detect the speed of a vehicle. Then it displays the measured speed on a variable message sign next to the road, where it is visible to the drivers.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility – Councillor Rob Quintas stated that these signs have proven to be an effective speed calming tool since the installation of the initial signs, almost three years ago.
According to Quintas, they are encouraged by the effectiveness thus far and know that the Transport Network Technology branch is always looking at ways to add to the functionality of these signs. If residents would like to motivate for a sign at a specific location, they are welcome to approach their Ward Councillor for further consideration.
The City of Cape Town has thus far rolled out 10 smart speed signs at the following locations:
- 109 High Level Road
- 109 Ocean View drive
- 291 High Level Road
- 27 High Level Road
- 43 Ocean View Drive
- Jip De Jager near Eksteen
- Jip de Jager near Mara
- Main near Clyde
- Beach near Surrey
- Victoria near Maidens cove
The most recent signs were installed along Jip de Jager in November 2025 and in Ward 115 and Ward 54 in January 2026.
Notably, each SSS is connected to one central server. Data of all vehicles is collected, stored and recorded by the SSS. Once a new sign is installed, the display is left in an off state for the first two weeks. This enables the City of Cape Town to have data from the time before the sign was in operation. Thereafter, the display is switched on (for approximately two weeks) and another data sample is taken.
Cllr Rob Quintas further stated that they have definitely noticed a drop in the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit once the displays were switched on. They have also noticed it, by monitoring the brake lights of cars, how the cars brake when they actually see the speed at which they are travelling where the ‘slow down’ message is displayed. He urged drivers to pay close attention to the speeds they are driving at and adhere to the speed limit on the roads.
The design of the SSS has earned the Transport Planning and Network Management Department of the City, as an innovation award and this is one of the many technologies the Urban Mobility Directorate has designed and installed over the last few years.