"a better understanding of how many drivers break the law"
New AI cameras are being rolled out to catch drivers who use their phones at the wheel.
Cameras were deployed in the Greater Manchester area from September 3, 2024, onwards as part of a wider national trial to ensure safer roads.
As well as catching drivers on mobile phones, the AI cameras can also detect people who are not wearing seatbelts.
Transport for Greater Manchester will introduce the cameras, which are built by Acusensus.
According to the firm, the cameras “provide automated recognition of people using mobile phones while driving in order to enforce traffic safety laws intended to prevent distracted driving”.
It captures footage of passing vehicles.
This is then run through AI to detect whether someone is using their phone while driving or if someone in the car is not wearing a seatbelt.
Two photos are taken:
- A shallow angle captures if a driver has a phone to their ear and checks whether a seat belt is being worn.
- A second deeper angle can see if a person is texting in front of them.
A human then examines the AI footage to confirm that the software is correct and an offence has been committed.
If the human check confirms that an offence has been committed, the driver is then issued with a penalty charge notice.
But if the image is wrong and no offence has been committed, Acusensus says it will be immediately deleted from the archives.
The cameras will also be used by Safer Roads Greater Manchester as part of a survey to find out how many drivers break the law and to help future road safety campaigns relating to mobile phones and seat belts.
This follows the Safer Roads’ Touch Screen campaign which aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of using a smartphone while driving.
Department for Transport (DfT) data found that 400,000 motorists a year use a mobile device while at the wheel.
Drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash if they use a phone while driving.
Motorists are also twice as likely to die in a crash if they don’t wear a seat belt.
Peter Boulton, TfGM’s Network Director for Highways, said:
“In Greater Manchester, we know that distractions and not wearing seatbelts are key factors in a number of road traffic collisions on our roads which have resulted in people being killed or seriously injured.
“By utilising this state-of-the-art technology provided by Acusensus, we hope to gain a better understanding of how many drivers break the law in this way, whilst also helping to reduce these dangerous driving practices and make our roads safer for everyone.”
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
- Sussex
The trial aims to help police forces understand how AI technology could work on National Highway roads and shape any nationwide rollout.
In the future, AI cameras will be attached to gantries on motorways in the trial regions.
These AI cameras have been backed by many safety organisations.
Rod Dennis, from the RAC, said:
“Despite the penalties for using a handheld phone having doubled to six penalty points and a £200 fine seven years ago, it’s clear that far too many drivers are still prepared to put lives at risk by engaging in this dangerous practice.
“We suspect a major reason for this is a lack of enforcement, meaning many drivers have no fear of being caught.”
“AI-equipped cameras that can automatically detect drivers breaking the law offer a chance for the tide to be turned.
“The police can’t be everywhere all of the time, so it makes sense that forces look to the best available technology that can help them catch drivers acting illegally.”
However, it has raised questions over whether the cameras are an invasion of privacy.
Jake Hurfurt, from privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said:
“Unproven AI-powered video analytics should not be used to monitor and potentially criminalise drivers.
“This kind of intrusive and creepy surveillance which treats every passer-by as a potential suspect is excessive and normalising. It poses a threat to everyone’s privacy.
“People should be free to go about their lives without being analysed by faceless AI systems.”
Police have said that the pictures are anonymised to remove identifying features such as the make of the vehicle, number plates or passenger faces. Only if a driver is prosecuted are the images matched to registration details – in a bid to protect privacy.
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