A pilot scheme that uses AI safety cameras to check whether motorists are breaking the law is being extended across the UK. A speed camera equipped with 4D radar capabilities; the first of this new breed of road safety technology was installed on the A23 in Lambeth, London, in early 2023.
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Then, in August last year, the first standalone AI road safety camera that detects whether drivers are using their mobile phone, or wearing a seatbelt, was installed on a stretch of road between Cornwall and Devon.
Supporters of the new AI scheme say although motorists have complained the cameras are intrusive, anything that helps to save lives should be welcomed.
What are AI safety cameras?
Labelled “next generation” technology, these cameras are aimed at improving road safety. On the A23 in Lambeth, an A4D radar with a high-resolution camera can determine the exact speed of the car and how far it is above the speed limit. Installed by Redspeed International, pioneers in safety solutions, the Sentio camera can also detect whether drivers are using mobile phones and wearing their seatbelt. The camera is linked to the DVLA and UK police databases to enable tax and insurance checks simultaneously.
It can work in various ways to carry out whatever functions are needed. For example, it can see who’s behind the wheel and spot which vehicles are carrying too many passengers, creating a safety risk. The images are later verified by a human.
The Acusensus AI camera system, created by AECOM and managed by Devon and Cornwall Police, caught 300 errant drivers in its first three days of operation and 1,500 within two weeks. The majority were not wearing seatbelts, although 162 committed mobile phone offences over the two-week trial.
AI safety camera reaction
Not everyone is a fan of the new technology, with pressure group Big Brother Watch calling the AI cameras “intrusive and creepy surveillance” which “poses a threat to everyone’s privacy”. The Alliance of British Drivers is also against the new system, claiming it’s “all about making money”. The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is up to £500, while driving with a mobile phone incurs a penalty of up to £200.
The ABD claims the objective of the cameras is to “maximise their revenue-generating potential”. They have been labelled “Big Brother’s cash machine” by critics. However, the RAC is in favour of AI cameras, saying it’s now impossible for the police to monitor everything without technology due to the sheer volume of traffic on the roads. It points out that drivers who are obeying the law have no cause to worry.
Statistics show drivers are four times more likely to have an accident if using a mobile phone while on the move. Safety experts say wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatalities by 50%. Every week in the UK, four people who are not wearing a seatbelt are killed or suffer serious injuries.
Almost one-third of fatal accidents among people aged 17 to 29 involve drivers or passengers who are not wearing a seatbelt. One of its most important functions is saving car occupants from being ejected from the vehicle on impact, which is almost always fatal.
Sadly, despite the dangers of driving while distracted by a phone, or not wearing a seatbelt, people are still committing these offences. Figures from the Department for Transport reveal 400,000 motorists in the UK are still using a mobile phone when driving.
Ongoing AI cameras trial
The National Highway and motorway police are now expanding the trial of AI safety cameras to other areas of the UK including Greater Manchester, Durham, Thames Valley, Humberside, Norfolk, West Mercia, Staffordshire, Wiltshire, Northamptonshire and Sussex.
Mounted to a trailer or vehicle at the side of the road, at a higher level than regular traffic and speed monitoring devices, the cameras can catch the motorists who are committing the two offences. Around 60% of drivers are unaware they have already been installed on many UK roads, or that they are about to be rolled out on more routes, according to a survey of 2,000 motorists by Big Motoring World.
According to AECOM safety chiefs, the rollout of the technology is giving police a “valuable insight” into road users’ behaviour and the number of people being seriously injured or killed as a result of breaking UK driving laws.
The technology was first trialled in New South Wales, Australia, where the number of drivers committing mobile phone offences has decreased from one in 82 to one in 534 over a four-year period.
Challenges for AI technology
The main challenges faced by increasing AI technology are privacy fears. Legal artificial intelligence is making it possible for more police forces all over the UK to prosecute, but there’s an ongoing backlash from people who feel we’re living in a Big Brother scenario.
Critics say it’s wrong to use “unproven” AI video analytics to criminalise motorists, as this treats everyone as a potential suspect, normalising “excessive surveillance”. They also cite the potential for false positives as an issue. This relates to cases when the AI algorithm wrongly matches a driver’s image with a known face from a database, possibly belonging to a criminal.
To combat privacy concerns, police say the photos are “anonymised” to remove any identifying features, with the pictures matched to vehicle registration details only if the driver is prosecuted.
Improving vehicle safety features
To improve drivers’ safety, a retrofit navigation system is a smart move. Not only does it allow hands-free operations, providing a safer alternative to using your mobile phone while driving, but it also has other benefits, including real-time traffic updates.
Using maps on your mobile phone can drain its data significantly. Even if it’s plugged into a charger during the journey, the extra power needed to keep the internet and GPS running can drain its battery quicker than it can recharge. Maps are already saved on a sat nav, so there isn’t anything to download.
A major benefit of sat nav is the fact you’re not risking an accident, or a hefty fine, by programming maps on your mobile phone while on the move. Should an AI safety camera capture you with your phone in your hand while driving, saying you were looking at a map won’t save you from being hit with a fine and points on your licence!
