Are AI cameras having a positive impact on road safety?

AI-powered cameras are driving improvements in driver behaviour across Devon and Cornwall, according to recent police data.

Over the past three years, Acusensus ‘Heads-Up’ cameras have been trialled at various sites throughout the two counties, with support from Devon & Cornwall Police and the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership.

These advanced systems employ dual cameras, with one front-facing and one overhead, to capture high-speed images of passing vehicles.

Artificial intelligence then analyses the footage to identify potential mobile phone or seatbelt violations.

Having now recorded over 10,000 offences in the past year, the cameras appear to be influencing driver behaviour across the region.

Data from August 2024 reveals a 50% reduction in seatbelt violations and a 33% drop in mobile phone offences across three monitored locations.

Adrian Leisk, Devon & Cornwall Police’s Head of Road Safety, said: “The year-on-year data shows a prolonged and significant reduction in both seatbelt and mobile phone offences, which is really encouraging.

“It’s important to say that the vast majority of motorists are complying with the rules – in fact, less than 1% of the vehicles we monitored using the Acusensus cameras were detected as committing offences.

“However, the dangers associated with these offences are well documented. Around a third of all fatal collisions nationally involve someone who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt – and not wearing one means you are twice as likely to die in the event of a serious collision.

“Using a mobile phone behind the wheel also significantly increases your chances of being involved in a collision, with the distraction impairing both your judgment and reaction times.”

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Each flagged image is reviewed by at least two human assessors in the UK to confirm whether an offence has occurred.

Depending on the outcome, drivers may receive either a warning letter or a notice of intended prosecution.

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams commented: “While some drivers may criticise these cameras for unwanted snooping, the reality is that these days the police increasingly rely on technology to catch drivers breaking the law – after all, it’s impossible to have a police officer stationed on every street corner.

“Having said that, given the increasing sophistication of cameras and the potential for AI to play a role in the future, it’s absolutely vital these cameras are set up correctly and there’s an easy means of drivers challenging penalties and fines which they think are unwarranted.”