Keeping passengers and drivers safer with live cameras in public transport

Cameras in public transit are often seen as complex due to rapidly evolving technology and intricate privacy regulations. Transit authorities and operators frequently face challenging and costly procurement processes for systems that may not be future-proof. Yet both the demand for camera surveillance and the capabilities of these systems continue to grow.

Three reasons behind the rising demand:

New legislation simplifies camera implementation

Under legislation introduced in August 2020, public transit operators no longer need permits for camera surveillance – provided the systems are used for crime prevention or to prevent or detect disruptions to public order and safety.

"We've seen transit authorities and operators wanting to add more real-time tools that increase safety for everyone on board," says Mariell Hallenhed, Commercial Product Manager at Telia. "At the same time, it's often difficult for them to keep up with technological developments and understand the regulations. So we see significant potential in this area to make public transit an easier and safer choice as we work toward more sustainable transportation and cities."

Proactive instead of reactive

Traditionally, camera surveillance footage has been used to determine what happened after an incident. Security systems have also required manual alarm activation or physically calling police or emergency services from the scene. With new technology, it's possible to monitor video streams in real time and take proactive action from, for example, a central traffic control center.

Connected cameras also enable operators to monitor large areas inside the vehicle to increase onboard safety. For instance, the driver can follow events on their driver screen during boarding and alighting. The cameras can also deliver a live view or recording to the traffic control center or third parties, which can be particularly valuable during major events that draw large crowds or in specific locations and areas.

The public welcomes camera surveillance

Both passengers and drivers respond positively to live cameras. In a survey conducted by Skånetrafiken, 75 percent of their drivers on two bus routes in Malmö felt safer or somewhat safer after live cameras were installed, compared to 90 percent of passengers. When asked how safe passengers feel on a route with live monitoring, on a scale from 1–10, the average was 8.53.

"We know that a large majority of passengers value and expect these systems," says Mariell Hallenhed. "So when we work with transit authorities and meet their requirements for passenger safety on board, the end result is increased passenger satisfaction with higher ridership, as well as a safe environment for drivers."

Edge-based video systems in Telia's Smart Public Transit offering

Telia, together with partner Observit, offers a future-proof ITxPT-compatible system for camera surveillance, built on open standards for transport and public transit. The edge system eliminates the need for a separate video recorder on board, simplifying management and enabling easy live streaming of video and integration with third-party systems.

"This is a major step forward from the reactive approach to camera surveillance. Together we're creating a complete system that increases safety in public transit," says Björn Callenfors, CEO of Observit.

Björn Callenfors explains that AI will be the catalyst behind the next major leap.

"Features like 'aggression detection' and other predictive tools are already being used in certain sectors today. We can only imagine what such tools, combined with automatic emergency alerts, can do to improve personal safety during events like football matches and other large gatherings."