New AI cameras to be rolled out from today to catch drivers breaking law

Motorists could face a hefty £1,000 fine or six points on their licence if they're caught by new Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras for using their mobile phones at the wheel.

These cutting-edge devices are engineered to catch drivers using their mobiles and those not wearing seatbelts - both of which are considered "key factors" in road accidents.

National Highways and police forces are keen to promote safer roads and have thus expanded an ongoing trial of these state-of-the-art cameras to additional regions across the country. Staffordshire Police are among the forces to have agreed in the extended AI camera rollout.

READ: Family has to sleep in car after caravan holiday turned out to be £1,000 scam Single mum Nicola and her children had driven to Wales for their first holiday in two years^[1]

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Meanwhile, cameras in Greater Manchester, set to be operational from Tuesday, September 3, have been developed by tech firm Acusensus. The company claims that the devices "provide automated recognition of drivers using mobile phones while driving in order to enforce traffic safety laws intended to prevent distracted driving".

As well as Staffordshire, the other police forces taking part are Durham, Humberside, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley and Sussex.

But how accurate are these cameras? Could I be wrongly penalised?

The inventive "Heads Up" AI technology was initially trialled by National Highways back in 2021, capturing vehicle footage at speeds of up to 300km per hour (roughly 186 miles an hour). This footage is processed through artificial intelligence to ascertain whether drivers are using their mobile phones or people inside the vehicle are not wearing seat belts.

Initially, two photos are snapped: the first at a shallow angle to determine if the driver is holding a phone to their ear and to verify seat belt usage, followed by a deeper angled shot that can reveal if someone is potentially texting. The captured AI imagery undergoes review by a human operator to ensure the detected offences are valid before issuing penalty charge notices.

Acusensus assures that any images found not to display an offence are promptly eradicated from their records.

How will data be used?

Safer Roads Greater Manchester says data from its county will be used as part of a survey to find out how many drivers break the law and to strategise future road safety campaigns relating to mobile phones and seatbelts.

Likewise, Safer Roads' Touch Screen used information for similar purposes when it ran a campaign around road safety and the dangers of using a smartphone while driving in recent years.

Department for Transport (DfT) data found that 400,000 drivers a year still use a mobile device when behind the wheel, with drivers four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone while driving. You're also twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seat belt.

When does the trial finish?

The AI camera rollout will now run until March 2025. However, should it be deemed successful, AI cameras will be attached to gantries on motorways across the country for the forseeable future.

Peter Boulton, Transport for Greater Manchester's network director for highways, said: "In Greater Manchester we know that distractions and not wearing seat belts are key factors in a number of road traffic collisions on our roads which have resulted in people being killed or seriously injured.

"By utilising this state-of-the-art technology provided by Acusensus, we hope to gain a better understanding of how many drivers break the law in this way, whilst also helping to reduce these dangerous driving practices and make our roads safer for everyone."

How effective are the cameras?

New freestanding AI cameras on the A30 near Launceston in Devon had caught 117 people on their mobiles while driving in just a 72-hour period. A further 130 people were snapped not wearing their seatbelt.

And in July 2023 Hampshire Constabulary and the Thames Valley Police ^[3] caught almost 500 offences in just a week after using a van with AI cameras mounted on it.

Rod Dennis, RAC road safety spokesman, said: "Despite the penalties for using a handheld phone having doubled to six penalty points and a £200 fine seven years ago, it's clear far too many drivers are still prepared to put lives at risk by engaging in this dangerous practice.

"We suspect a major reason for this is a lack of enforcement, meaning many drivers have no fear of being caught. AI-equipped cameras that can automatically detect drivers breaking the law offer a chance for the tide to be turned.

"The police can't be everywhere all of the time, so it makes sense that forces look to the best available technology that can help them catch drivers acting illegally."

References

^{^} Family has to sleep in car after caravan holiday turned out to be £1,000 scam (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Elon Musk issues one-word verdict after 'chanting' woman in Hanley riots jailed (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Thames Valley Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
^{^} Sign up to our main daily newsletter here and get all the latest news straight to your inbox for FREE (data.reachplc.com)