Can Python be used to build real-world traffic enforcement systems (ANPR, speed/red-light cameras)?

[FiatLux-john]

Hi everyone,

I'm a complete beginner in programming and have just started learning Python. I recently went through basic concepts like classes, tuples, directories, and internal/external libraries.

The reason I started coding is that I want to eventually develop software for automated traffic enforcement systems (such as ANPR, speed, and red-light detection cameras). My company currently relies heavily on external software development vendors for this, but their demands are unpredictable and expensive. I want to reduce this dependency by building our own internal software and owning the source code.

Our current hardware setup includes:

Bullet cameras

8.9MP global shutter PTZ cameras

Traffic radar

When I asked one of our external developers what language they used, they answered "Visual Studio code and builder," which confused me since Visual Studio is an IDE, not a language. It made me wonder if they assumed we knew nothing about software.

Another developer told me I should learn C# instead. I bought a C# book and tried to follow along, but as a beginner, I found Python much more approachable. I even completed a Python book recently and feel more comfortable with it.

That brings me to my main question:

Is it really feasible to build real-world traffic enforcement software (handling image processing, real-time vehicle recognition, data logging, possibly UI) using Python?
Or, for this kind of mission-critical and performance-sensitive system, should I seriously consider switching to another language like C++ or C#?

I’ve seen mixed opinions — some say Python is enough, especially with libraries like OpenCV and deep learning tools. Others say performance and system integration issues make Python a poor fit.

I would really appreciate practical advice from people who've worked on similar systems or embedded/industrial applications.

Thanks in advance.

[UltralyticsAssistant]

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[FiatLux-john]

In addition to what I mentioned above, during a meeting with one of our outsourced developers, I asked what language they typically use. They responded with, "Visual Studio and Builder," which left me a bit confused since I know Visual Studio is an IDE, not a language.

When I asked if they ever use Python, they laughed and said, "Of course not."
The way they said it — with a bit of a laugh — made me feel like they were implying:

"Obviously, Python isn't used for this kind of industrial application. It's silly to even ask."

This left me wondering:

Is Python really not suitable for industrial-level systems like automated traffic enforcement software?
Or is it just an outdated perception?

I’ve seen powerful applications being built with Python — especially in computer vision and machine learning — so I want to understand whether Python is a viable option in these kinds of performance-sensitive, real-time environments, or if it's simply not practical at all.

[Y-T-G]

You can build the software you mentioned in Python and they can run real-time with proper optimizations (TensorRT, DeepStream etc.).

Although, using compiled languages like C++ or Rust typically provides an edge in performance compared to Python.