AI-powered radars are monitoring illegal overtaking on the SS18 route in Calabria, southern Italy, where the SV3 system was installed in August 2025. It targets dangerous mountain roads, including switchbacks and blind curves where drivers cannot see what is coming. Several European automotive publications have reported these details.
The SV3 system goes beyond ordinary speed cameras. It combines high-resolution cameras and road sensors with artificial intelligence to detect when a car crosses a solid line or overtakes where it is prohibited. For each violation, it records about 15 seconds of video, capturing the maneuver from its lead-up through its aftermath. Information from Eleconomista and Caradisiac, SV3 focuses on solid-line crossings and illegal overtaking, rather than every possible traffic offense.
The technology raises the stakes for drivers. Spain and other countries already use AI to detect speeding, while also enforcing seat-belt and phone rules. SV3 is reported to detect overtaking and illegal parking. Reports also say it can flag prohibited turns and drivers who run red or amber lights. In Pamplona, similar systems already issue fines for up to ten types of violations. The Italian SV3, but, is the first to focus on overtaking. Independent reports say that only illegal overtaking and solid-line crossings are reliably recorded by SV3; there is no official evidence yet that it detects parking or red-light offenses. Italian authorities and the manufacturer have not published full specifications.
Italian officials chose dangerous roads first, including mountain passes with poor visibility and blind corners. They also selected long straight stretches where drivers take risks. The system records details of the car and the offense, including its license plate, lane and exact location, helping police issue fines and giving them evidence. Enforcement is not fully automatic. After the system flags a violation, it sends the evidence to police, where officers review it before issuing a fine. Several European automotive news outlets have reported this process.
For drivers, the impact is immediate: quick passes over solid lines and risky moves in blind spots are harder to get away with. The AI does not get tired or blink. As more of the process goes digital, the old debate returns: is this about safety or raising money? Published materials put fines for illegal overtaking in Italy at €42 to €345, plus penalty points. The amount depends on the road and the circumstances. These figures come from non-official sources; drivers checking the rules should consult the current Italian Highway Code. Reports also cite head-on collisions as a basic reason for installing SV3 systems, particularly on roads where overtaking across a solid line is common and motorcyclists are especially vulnerable. Calabria’s deployment remains a pilot project. No confirmed totals are available for installed units or issued fines, and the deployment’s measurable impact on accident rates is unknown.
Spain is watching the Italian trial. If it succeeds, similar radars could appear on Spanish roads, particularly at high-risk locations. As AI becomes part of public infrastructure, drivers have less room for mistakes or bending the rules. Smart systems are also being used to manage weather alerts, including those reported earlier in Granada. But, there is no solid evidence that Spanish systems, including those in Pamplona, use the same SV3 technology or identical sensors and algorithms. The IREX platform, for example, can be configured to detect overtaking, but there is no evidence linking it to the Italian SV3.
The promised safety gains will be weighed against privacy concerns and the feeling that every move is tracked. For now, Calabria’s deployment signals the arrival of AI traffic enforcement on Italian roads.
