The new technology will be trialled on a road in Swansea where two motorcyclists have died
A Welsh council is trialling new AI powered road signs to help slow down speeding motorbikes. It follows police forces in England trialling AI-powered cameras that can tell if drivers are using a mobile phone, or are wearing seat belts while behind the wheel.
The new AI powered road signs to slow down motorcyclists are being trialled in Swansea and it isn’t the first time that the council has enlisted the help of smart technologies to improved public services. Just in August 2025, the local authority trialled new internet-connected bins in rural areas to help save time and resources.
Meanwhile, South Wales Police has been investing significantly on facial recognition as well, spending over £3.5m on the initiative which has resulted in 93 arrests since its introduction.
The new technology to slow down speeding motorists will use AI cameras and thermal imaging technology capable of telling motorbikes apart from other modes of traffic on the road. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here
Motorbike riders who approach an AI-powered sign will have their speed displayed along with a message reading “slow” if they are travelling above the posted speed limit.
A section of Carmarthen Road in Cwmdu, that has seen two motorbike riders die since 2012 will be one of the first locations where the new signs are tried out.
The council hopes that the new signs will prompt riders to slow down, decreasing the chance of them being involved in a traffic accident.
Police accident data reveals that motorbikes made up 15% of all vehicle collisions in Swansea in the last three years — higher than the Welsh average which stands at 12%.
If the trial of these new AI powered signs is successful, the local authority will aim to roll out these signs at up to 20 more “known hotspots” across Swansea.
The initiative is being funded through a Welsh Government Road Safety Grant worth £333,000 that was awarded to Swansea Council.
Andrew Stevens, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “The latest statistics in relation to accidents involving motorcycles is something we want to see lowered in Swansea.
“We’ve identified a number of locations where motorcycle riders are most vulnerable when using excessive speed.
“We now have an opportunity, using the latest AI technology, to assist riders with more information on the road to remind them of local speed limits and hopefully encourage them to ride responsibly and reduce the risk of an accident.”
