Updated: 02:39 AEDT, 17 December 2024
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AI cameras are being used by police to catch motorists over the legal alcohol limit during as part of new anti-drink driving trials in the South West.
Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs could be caught by the same AI cameras already used at the roadside to catch hundreds of motorists a day who fail to wear seatbelts or break the law by handling their mobile phones while driving.
Devon and Cornwall has launched this world first trial in a bit to prevent accidents.
It's the latest initiative from the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership’s campaign, which aims to reduce the number of people killed or injured on the region’s roads.
The cameras will be in-situ throughout December while the trial takes place as the crackdown on Christmas party season intensifies.
AI cameras are being used in Devon and Cornwall to catch drink drivers as part of a anti-drink driving safety campaign
The AI cameras - developed by Australian firm Acusensus - use cloud-based algorithms to analyse image data from passing cars to look for indicators that the driver might be impaired by drink or drugs.
If the cameras believe someone is driving under the influence, the software will alert officers waiting further down the road as part of the annual crackdown on drink drivers during the festive season.
At this point, the police will stop the car and ask the motorist to undergo roadside testing to prove they adhere to the legal limit.
Geoff Collins, of Acusensus, said: 'We are delighted to be conducting the world's first trials of this technology right here in Devon and Cornwall.
'We are all safer if we can detect impairment before it causes an incident that could ruin lives.'
The police force using the technology warns that drivers under the influence are six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
AI traffic cameras can be attached to vehicles or trailers so they are easily movable to different parts of the region
Freestanding AI cameras on the A30 near Launceston in Devon had caught 117 people using their mobile phones while driving in a 72-hour period in July.
A further 130 people were snapped not wearing their seat belt.
In July 2023, Hampshire and the Thames Valley police detected almost 500 offences in a week after using a van with AI cameras mounted on it.
Positioned on the A34 and A303 as part of a National Police Chiefs' Council campaign, the Acusensus 'Heads Up' vehicle caught motorists using their phones, not wearing seat belts and driving under the influence of drugs.
A total of 86 drivers were suspected of using a phone. Some 273 motorists or passengers were suspected of not wearing a seat belt and a further 132 mechanical offences identified.
After checks by a member of staff were carried out, five arrests were made.
National Highways and police forces across England have extended an ongoing trial that began in 2021 and will now run until March 2025.
The 10 police forces taking part in the rollout are Greater Manchester, Durham, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police and Sussex.
The trial is aimed at helping police forces to understand how AI technology could work on National Highway roads and shape any nationwide rollout.
In the future, AI cameras would be attached to gantries on motorways in the trial regions.
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