Italy Tests New Surveillance System to Catch Drivers Overtaking on Solid Lines

According to Italian media, a new traffic surveillance system called the “sorpassometro” (officially SV3) has been introduced and is being tested in the country to detect illegal overtaking on road sections marked with solid lines.This device complements speed cameras and average-speed monitoring systems, but unlike them, it does not measure speed or average speed — instead, it specifically targets overtaking violations where such maneuvers are strictly prohibited.

The “sorpassometro” operates through a combination of road-embedded sensors and cameras. Once a violation is detected, the system automatically transmits the vehicle’s information together with video evidence to the authorities, who then issue a penalty notice to the vehicle’s owner. These devices are most often installed in areas with reduced visibility or near so-called blind curves, where risky overtaking can lead to serious consequences.

One of the first “sorpassometro” units was installed in early August in Calabria, in the province of Cosenza, along the SS18 highway, a road notorious for reckless driving maneuvers and frequent accidents. It records 15-second video clips as indisputable evidence of violations, enabling authorities to sanction reckless drivers more effectively and strengthen accident prevention. Penalties range from monetary fines and penalty points on the driver’s license to license suspension in more severe cases.