New ‘smart’ AI speed cameras catch hundreds of drivers on Midlands roads

Hundreds of drivers have been caught out by new ‘smart’ speed cameras recently rolled out onto Midlands roads. The cameras have been fitted with the latest digital technology and use AI to help catch speeding motorists.

They were added to roads by Staffordshire^[1] Police at the end of last year as part of a fresh crackdown on dangerous driving. They were initially placed at four problem locations in the county and senior officers have not ruled out adding more in future as part of a push to improve safety.

The new cameras have replaced older yellow box ones which haven’t worked in years, and should serve as a warning to motorists that they will be punished if caught over the limit. The cameras are operating in some of the busiest A roads in Staffordshire where there are longstanding concerns over speeding.

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One of them is in Stafford, on the A449 north of Wolverhampton. A total of 161 drivers were caught here this year, up to September, data obtained by BlackCountryLive showed.

But speeds tend to be slower on this section of road than others in Stoke-on-Trent. Numbers clocked going over the speed limit are higher here. Some 1,087 were sent speeding tickets after being spotted on the A34 Newcastle Road in Stoke.

Speed camera locations and numbers caught so far this year

• A449 Wolverhampton Road, Stafford – 161
• A34 Newcastle Road, Stoke – 1,087
• A5008 Potteries Way, Stoke – 311
• A53 Leek New Road/Baddley Green – 249

Elsewhere in the city, the total was 311 on the A5008 Potteries Way and 249 on the A53 Leek New Road/Baddeley Green. The cameras use a radar device to accurately measure the speed of each vehicle that passes.

High-quality images of any vehicles exceeding the speed limit are then automatically sent to the enforcement officers. Ahead of the rollout, Inspector Mark Joynson, of the force’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “The installation of the new technology will make it easier to check speeds across Staffordshire and we hope they will provide a visual reminder of the work we do every day to keep all road users as safe as possible.”