Greece: Smart Cameras Issue Fines Amid Accuracy Concerns

Greece's new "smart cameras" are now fully operational, sending out a flood of fines to drivers. However, alongside these "ravassakia" (official notices), citizens are increasingly voicing objections, claiming they have been unfairly penalized by the artificial intelligence systems.

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He wrote me up for a seatbelt while I was wearing it.

A notable case involves a driver fined for not wearing a seatbelt, despite his insistence that he was wearing it. According to reports, the photograph taken by the camera on Syngrou Avenue shows dark areas where the seatbelt should be visible, leading the driver to argue that low image resolution caused the error. The fine amounts to 350 euros and a one-month license suspension.

These incidents raise questions about the accuracy of the AI used in the cameras. Of the 1,219 fines issued by the Ministry of Digital Governance's eight pilot cameras, 17 are currently under review to determine if violations actually occurred. Police sources acknowledge that human oversight is often necessary to cross-reference the data captured by AI, and that initial violation alerts are not always confirmed after traffic police re-examine the video footage.

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It is the time that is wrong. And to the bottom right where the belt ends, there is darkness. 2/3 of the photo, which should show that I am wearing a seatbelt, is dark due to the low resolution of the shot.

Despite increased surveillance, violations continue. Cameras have recorded vehicles running red lights and scooters doing the same. Other drivers were caught using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. Authorities remind the public that fines are strict and checks will persist in an effort to improve road safety.

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In many cases, human control is required to cross-reference the data recorded by artificial intelligence.