The Brussels local transport company, the MIVB, is testing a new obstacle detection system on a tram in Haren (City of Brussels). The system consists of smart cameras that detect obstacles on the tracks and alert the tram driver. This helps to prevent accidents.
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Brussels public transport company MIVB tests smart obstacle detection system on trams
Colin Clapson
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“We have installed a system on a tram in Haren comprising two small cameras that detect obstacles on the tracks. The tram driver is alerted by an audible signal and can then react quickly. So, it acts as an extra pair of eyes for the driver,” explains Laurent Vermeersch of the MIVB.
“Our trams travel through a city with many complex intersections. Cars, scooters, cyclists, buses and pedestrians all cross the tracks. Sometimes a vehicle comes to a standstill on the tracks because traffic further ahead is blocked. This system alerts the tram driver,” explains Vermeersch.
Reducing accidents
In 2025, there were 900 accidents involving trams in Brussels; in 2024, the figure was 1,200. The MIVB hopes the system will help reduce the number of accidents even further.
A one-year trial period will determine whether the system can be rolled out more widely, and the MIVB will also take the costs into account.