FIMA is starting to launch a multi-functional pilot system on Lithuania’s main roads to tackle traffic violations. The system will weigh passing vehicles and determine their type and size, read their license plates and collect traffic data.

The framework for the project – which has been determined in a contract with the Lithuanian Road Administration – will see three violation control and traffic monitoring posts installed on the country’s roads.

As the general contractor, FIMA is responsible for all the construction and installation of the electronic infrastructure as well as the development of the information system. Together with partners, the company will also develop methods for metrological verification of the weigh-in-motion system without the need to stop traffic.

“This is the first step in the development of an integrated multi-functional system, which will be available to all institutions monitoring traffic and controlling vehicles, as well as to law-enforcement agencies. We will be able to monitor a number of parameters and not only receive information about offences but also about traffic flow, direction and types of vehicles,” said Egidijus Skrodenis, director of the Lithuanian Road Administration.

All of the equipment including weighing sensors; induction loops under the road surface; size sensors; video cameras monitoring vehicles from the front, side and rear; and license plate recognition systems set on trusses over all the sections of road should be installed by the end of 2017. This is also the deadline for development of the information system.

In addition, FIMA has committed to conducting periodical metrological checks as well as maintaining, updating and repairing the equipment until 2020. The project cost is estimated at 3.3 million euros.

The company aims to enable the system to automatically issue tickets to operators whose vehicles exceed weight limits or violate other regulations. This will be the first such attempt to do this in Europe.

The objective of the pilot project is to establish which technologies are the most suitable and effective in Lithuania and to monitor their effects on driver behaviour. A decision will be made later on about further introduction of the system on other roads across Lithuania.