High-Tech AI Speed Cameras Rolled-Out to ‘Stop Distracted Drivers’

An undated image of a new high-tech seatbelt and cell phone detection camera on the side of the road in Australia. (Drive.com.au)

British drivers have been warned that convictions for illegal mobile phone use and no seatbelts are set to rise as AI led speed cameras are being installed nationwide.

New “spot” cameras, developed by Australian tech company Acusensus, use state-of-the-art AI to seek out and determine if drivers are illegally using electronic devices or not wearing a seatbelt.

Although the camera uses AI to identify potential offences, all flagged images are reviewed by a human before penalties are issued.

The AI-led cameras are currently being rolled out across 25 routes in the north of England following successful trials across 25 sites across England in October and November 2023, and at five sites in Scotland in the spring of 2024.

Analysis of the trials suggests that there may be approximately 50,000 instances of drivers using hand-held phones daily, and around half a million motorists driving without wearing a seatbelt, according to Acusensus.

Last year, Vision Zero South West, a road safety partnership for Devon & Cornwall which includes the police–as well as the fire service, ambulance service, councils, national highways, air ambulance, etc–detected almost 300 drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts on in the first three days of operation.

In total, the new camera detected 117 mobile phone and 180 seat belt offences.

Adrian Leisk, head of road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police, hopes the new technology will help send a clear message to those who continue to flout the law and put lives at risk.

Mr. Leisk said in a press release via Vision Zero South West, “When we trialled this technology last year, we were disappointed by the number of drivers detected not wearing seatbelts–particularly as we continue to see serious and fatal collisions involving people who were not wearing seatbelts, a third of all fatal collisions in 2021 involved someone who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.”

RAC’s road safety spokesman Simon Williams told Fuel Genie while “some may criticise these cameras for unwanted snooping,” the reality is that “police increasingly rely on technology to catch drivers breaking the law because it’s impossible to have a police officer on every street corner.

Gary Digva, from driving safety expert group Road Angel, warns that as newer high-tech alternatives replace the approximate 7,000 speed cameras across Britain, more drivers will likely be convicted for distracted driving.

Mr. Digva told The Epoch Times in an email on Tuesday: “The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show that convictions of drivers using a handheld device nearly doubled compared to the previous year as new cameras were introduced.

“As the Vector SR and other high-tech cameras capable of seeing inside vehicles replace legacy systems across Britain the number of prosecutions is set to skyrocket.”

Mr. Digva urged British drivers to use hands-free alternatives that don’t block their view of the road.

Not only will you save yourself from the risk of fines, demerit points on your licence and potential driving disqualifications, but you can save putting your own life and other road user’s lives in serious danger, he said.

Drivers in the UK caught holding or using a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any other device that can send and receive data, face a six-point penalty and a £200 fine.

Newly qualified drivers can lose their driving licence if they have only passed their driving test in the past two years.

Drivers can lose three penalty points if they do not have full view of the road and view of the traffic ahead, or if they don’t have proper control of the vehicle.

Court action can also be taken against drivers, which can lead to a driving ban and fines of up to £1,000 (£2,500 for those driving heavy vehicles such as a lorry or bus).