Using data to drive smarter traffic enforcement: From intuition to intelligence
Across Europe and the United Kingdom, cities, councils and enforcement agencies are turning to data and digital tools to make traffic enforcement fairer, faster and more effective.
Data is no longer just a reporting requirement, it is the compass that provides direction, the engine that drives improvement and the mirror that shows whether interventions truly work.
What does a data-led approach look like?
Data-driven governance relies on evidence, analysis and dashboards rather than instinct alone. The process is simple but powerful: measure, understand and act.
Information from multiple sources, such as ANPR detections, traffic counts and speed surveys, is combined and visualised through dashboards. This intelligence enables authorities to target the right areas, evaluate outcomes and refine their strategies over time.
It represents a shift from ad-hoc decision-making to a structured, evidence-based approach: what works, we continue; what does not, we adapt.
Using local data to improve road safety
One of the most visible applications is road safety. By systematically analysing offence data, authorities can assess whether interventions are delivering real change. Are fewer drivers speeding in specific zones? Do patterns vary by day, time or location?
By zooming into individual camera areas, a granular overview of behaviour on the ground emerges. Cameras near schools or collision hotspots show whether their presence leads to safer conditions. Map-based dashboards make these trends visible and help teams focus their efforts where they are most needed. Outliers stand out quickly too.
If an unusual number of appeals or adjudications arise from a particular site, this may indicate an issue with signage or local interpretation. Data becomes a real-time feedback loop between the street and policy delivery.
From insight to policy and practice
Local data also feeds broader learning and policy development. Dashboards reveal how many offences involve fleet vehicles, how many drivers are successfully identified, and which behaviours pose the greatest risk.
These insights support not only local and regional governments but also research bodies and national policymakers. They form the basis for reforms on repeat-offender management, smarter deterrence and targeted investment in high-risk locations. Intelligence bridges the gap between day-to-day operations and strategic policy development.
Both in the UK and across the EU, transport and safety strategies are increasingly shaped by the Safe System and Vision Zero principles — recognising that no death or serious injury on the roads is acceptable.
Within the European Union, the EU Road Safety Policy Framework and the revised Cross-Border Enforcement Directive strengthen these ambitions, promoting shared data, consistent enforcement and measurable progress towards safer mobility.
Financial clarity and service efficiency
Data-led working delivers not only safety benefits but also financial transparency. Authorities face growing pressure: more responsibilities, tighter budgets, higher public expectations.
With real-time dashboards, teams can instantly see how many penalty cases are paid, outstanding or under appeal. Smart analytics reveal where resources can be used more efficiently and where process improvements will have the biggest impact.
Historical trends make it possible to forecast revenues, monitor collection rates and identify bottlenecks before they cause backlogs. Linking outcomes to budgets allows leaders to understand both the effectiveness and the sustainability of their enforcement work.
InTouch Insights: turning data into intelligence
Data becomes meaningful only when it leads to insight and action. That is where InTouch Insights comes in:the digital backbone of modern, data-driven enforcement. It brings together information from every stage of the enforcement process: from detection and payment to appeals and driver identification into one intuitive dashboard.
Within seconds, teams gain a clear view of compliance, revenue performance, processing times and trends, down to the level of a single camera or district. The platform aligns with both national and European reporting frameworks and removes the need for manual spreadsheets or quarterly summaries. Its strength lies in both simplicity and intelligence.
Through Inty, the built-in AI communication buddy in the shape of a smart squirrel, data comes alive. Inty detects trends, flags anomalies and recommends next steps based on figures, legislation and performance goals. Managers can even chat directly with Inty: "Hey Inty, show all cases open more than 60 days." or "Yo Inty, which school sites have seen the greatest reduction in speeding since September?".
Clear, visual answers appear instantly, supported by graphs and KPIs. Reporting becomes real-time operational steering. Together, the Insights platform and Inty reduce administrative load, enhance visibility and accelerate decisions. Figures gain context, strategy gains direction, and public authorities gain a powerful instrument for intelligent, transparent and future-ready governance.
Why now?
The challenges are growing: road safety, net-zero transport, climate goals and citizen trust are all high on the agenda. People expect faster, fairer and more transparent enforcement, while resources remain under pressure.
At the same time, governments across Europe and the UK have committed to clear safety objectives guided by the Safe System, Vision Zero, the EU Road Safety Policy Framework and the revised Cross-Border Enforcement Directive. In this context of high expectations and accountability, enforcement can no longer rely on intuition alone.
Without data, authorities act in the dark. With data, they can deliver enforcement that is measurable, fair and forward-looking. Data-driven working is not a trend; it is a necessary evolution.
At InTouch, we believe every public authority (large or small) can achieve greater impact through intelligence.
Our Insights platform and AI communication buddy Inty help enforcement and mobility teams turn data into action: with live dashboards, on-demand reporting and automated analysis that guide better decisions.
⇒ Discover how your organisation can work with intelligence. — book a demo of the InTouch Traffic enforcement platform. Together, let’s build enforcement that works, driven by intelligence (and a cute squirrel).
