Riga Sees 66% Drop in Red-Light Violations Following LMT Traffic Monitoring Rollout
Riga is witnessing a significant shift in driver behavior and road safety. New data reveals that red-light violations in the Latvian capital have plummeted by 66% over a six-month period following the implementation of LMT Group’s automated traffic monitoring solution. By deploying smart technology across nine key locations, the city has moved from relying on manual patrols to a data-driven enforcement model that is drastically reducing dangerous driving patterns.
The Impact of Automated Enforcement
The transition to automated monitoring has highlighted a massive gap in detection capabilities between manual and digital systems. In 2024, before the LMT solution was rolled out in March 2025, the Riga Municipal Police issued 1,250 red-light violation tickets across the entire city through manual patrols. To place the efficiency of the new system into perspective, Latvia’s entire fleet of 360-degree police camera cars recorded 740 red-light violations in 2024; however, the LMT solution at just a single intersection detected six times that amount within six months.
The effectiveness of the system is evident in the steady decline of violations. After reaching a peak of 3,636 violations in August 2025, the numbers dropped consistently through the autumn and winter, reaching 1,134 by February 2026.
Uncovering New Driver Behavioral Patterns
Beyond just catching violators, the LMT system has provided the Riga Municipal Police with critical insights into when the roads are most dangerous. Contrary to the common assumption that risks peak after 5 p.m. During the height of the evening commute, the data shows that the riskiest hour for red-light violations is actually between 4 and 5 p.m.
the system revealed a stark contrast between different times of the day, noting that the number of red-light violations during the morning commute is roughly half as high as those seen during the afternoon peak.
“Smart control systems have develop into an indispensable tool for organizing the city’s circulatory system – the traffic flow – preventing the intentional creation of congestion and ensuring priority for public transport. The goal of technology is not to punish, but to instill self-discipline,” stated Andrejs Aronovs, Deputy Chief of the Riga Municipal Police.
The Broader Road Safety Crisis in Latvia
The push for automated monitoring comes at a critical time for road safety in the region. According to European Commission data, 19,400 people died in road accidents across Europe in 2025. Latvia’s situation is particularly urgent, as the country ranked fourth in the European Union for road fatalities during that year.
Even as fatal accidents across Europe declined by 3% in 2025 despite an increase in the number of vehicles, the region still struggles to meet the “Vision Zero” target of eliminating road deaths entirely. The deployment of precise monitoring for speed limits, traffic lanes, and red lights is seen as a vital step in creating a more predictable and safer environment for all road users.
Key Takeaways: LMT Traffic Monitoring in Riga
- Violation Reduction: Red-light violations dropped by 66% between August 2025 and February 2026.
- Scale of Deployment: The system is currently active in 9 locations in Riga and is part of a wider solution serving over 800,000 inhabitants across six Latvian cities.
- Peak Risk Window: The highest frequency of violations occurs between 4 p.m. And 5 p.m.
- Efficiency Gain: A single LMT-monitored intersection outperformed the entire 2024 national police camera car fleet’s red-light detection by sixfold over six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the LMT system implemented in Riga?
The system was introduced to improve traffic management, reduce the strain on manual police enforcement resources, and decrease the high rate of road fatalities in Latvia, which ranks fourth in the EU for road deaths.
When did the system launch?
The LMT traffic monitoring solution was rolled out in March 2025.
Does the system only target red-light violations?
While the recent data focuses on red lights, the system is designed for the precise monitoring of speed limits, traffic lanes, and red lights to instill driver self-discipline.
As Riga continues to integrate these smart control systems, the focus remains on shifting driver behavior from avoidance of punishment to a culture of self-discipline, ultimately aiming to lower Latvia’s standing in EU road fatality rankings.