Panche Toshkovski: Safe City detected nine motorcycle speeding offences on first day

Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said the automated "Safe City" system recorded nine speeding offences by motorcyclists on its first day of successful motorcycle detection.

Toshkovski explained the change followed a technical limitation with the speed cameras: they register the vehicle's front, while motorcycle licence plates are mounted at the rear.

"The problem was those who pretend to be motorcyclists because real motorcyclists respect traffic rules, wear helmets, etc. We had a technical problem how to detect them for one of the offences we automatically detect, which is speed. Why? For the simple reason that a speed camera detects the front chassis, the front side of the vehicle, and the registration is on the rear side of the motorcycle," the minister said.

Equipment installed at key locations produced immediate results

Toshkovski added that, after placing appropriate equipment at selected sites across the territory of North Macedonia, the system started producing results.

"We solved that part as well — the territory of Macedonia where we initially thought there were the best conditions to install [the equipment], we installed them and I think that on the first day we recorded around nine offences for speeding by those riding motorcycles who thought they would not be subject to detection by this system," he said.

The minister said that on 26 August the Safe City cameras began detecting motorcycles exceeding the speed limit. He framed the measure as protecting both motorcyclists and other road users, noting that in August four of six traffic-fatality victims were riding motorcycles. Toshkovski also reported that by 1 September 2025 there were 96 victims in traffic accidents, while in the same nine-month period this year there were 60 victims.

Photo: press material from the event