AI cameras to detect phone and seatbelt offenses in UK Police trial

The growing prevalence of distracted driving and seatbelt violations has prompted UK police forces to explore advanced surveillance technologies. Essex Police is set to become the latest force to trial AI-powered cameras that can detect drivers using mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts.

What you need to know: Essex Police will deploy high-definition AI cameras starting April 2025 to identify and document traffic violations related to mobile phone use and seatbelt compliance.

• The cameras, developed by tech company Acusensus, are currently in use across 19 police regions in England
• The system will be deployed using relocatable trailers positioned along roadsides
• All detected violations undergo human review before any enforcement action is taken

Operational impact: Adam Pipe, Essex Police’s head of roads policing, reports exceptional results from similar deployments elsewhere in detecting violations that would typically go unnoticed by roadside officers.

• The cameras provide high-quality imaging capabilities for reliable violation detection
• The technology serves as a labor-saving tool, capable of monitoring hundreds of thousands of vehicles daily
• Police can issue warning letters, fines, or pursue prosecutions based on the camera evidence

Real-world effectiveness: Previous implementations have demonstrated significant success in identifying dangerous driving behaviors.

• Devon and Cornwall Police detected over 2,000 violations during a two-month trial on three A-roads
• Among the violations were 109 cases involving children, including an incident where a child was found unrestrained on a driver’s lap
• The technology aims to improve road safety through enhanced enforcement capabilities

Safety implications: While technology plays a crucial role in enforcement, Essex Police emphasizes that road safety ultimately depends on individual responsibility and community involvement.

• Police encourage public engagement in promoting safe driving behaviors
• The force advocates for active intervention when witnessing unsafe driving practices
• The initiative aims to reduce road accidents and prevent fatalities caused by distracted driving

Looking ahead: The expanding adoption of AI surveillance technology in traffic enforcement marks a significant shift in how UK police forces address dangerous driving behaviors, though questions remain about privacy implications and the balance between automated enforcement and human oversight.