The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate continued installing the Smart Speed Signs (SSS) at the request of wards across Cape Town.
There are currently 10 smart speed signs in Cape Town, and according to the directorate, another four are in the planning process. Mayoral Committee member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, says the City has noticed a 25% reduction in speeding at some of the locations where these signs have been installed.
Quintas says the smart speed signs detect a vehicle’s speed and display the measured speed on a variable message sign next to the road, where it is visible to drivers.
Quinats added that these signs have proven to be an effective speed calming tool since the installation of the initial signs, some three years ago.
“If residents would like to motivate for a sign at a specific location, they are welcome to approach their Ward Councillor for further consideration,” added Quintas.
The City 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.
According to the City, each sign is connected to one central server, and then data is collected and stored for all vehicles recorded. Once a new sign is installed, the display is left in an off state for the first two weeks.
This enables the City to have data from the time before the sign was in operation. Thereafter, the display is switched on, and another data sample is taken.
Quintas says a drop in the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit has definitely been noticed once the displays were switched on.
“We have also noticed, 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.”
The City has urged drivers to pay close attention to the speeds they are driving at and adhere to the speed limit on roads across the metro.
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