The UK is rolling out new AI-powered speed cameras to catch drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts, aiming to reduce road traffic offences and enhance overall safety on the roads.
Introduction of AI-Powered Speed Cameras Across the UK
The UK is set to introduce AI-powered speed cameras designed to catch drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. These high-tech cameras aim to enhance road safety by identifying offenders through advanced imaging technology.
According to the Department for Transport, approximately 400,000 British drivers continue to use handheld devices illegally while driving. These new AI cameras, already trialed successfully on roads such as the A30 near Launceston in Devon, can capture high-quality images to detect violations.
The Acusensus cameras, already in use by about a quarter of UK police forces, take two images from different angles to determine if a driver is using a phone or is not wearing a seatbelt. If a violation is detected, anonymized images are processed and sent to the police for prosecution.
Privacy groups have expressed concerns over the deployment of these cameras, calling the surveillance “intrusive.” However, officials maintain that the anonymization process adequately protects individuals’ privacy.
These cameras are part of a broader initiative to reduce road traffic offenses and improve safety by making it harder for drivers to escape detection for illegal activities such as using mobile phones, speeding, or not wearing seatbelts.
