Motorists are being warned of new artificial intelligence cameras on roads to help police crack down on people breaking speeding laws.
As part of the camera rollout, drivers could face £2,500 penalties if caught out by the new AI cameras, which could become standard in the UK.
The cameras are currently being rolled out by 10 police forces across the UK
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The cameras are currently being rolled out by 10 police forces across the UK and if successful they will be introduced nationwide.
The mobile technology will be able to automatically detect if motorists are breaking road rules that include using phones behind the wheel or not wearing a seatbelt.
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The AI technology, designed to improve road safety, is mounted to a vehicle or trailer and has multiple cameras attached to it giving different views of the driver and passengers.
The high-tech cameras capture footage and can detect if drivers are breaking the law. The images are then passed to the police and drivers found guilty could be handed substantial fines.
If caught using a phone at the wheel, motorists could be fined £1,000, rising to £2,500 if driving a lorry or bus, handed six penalty points and banned from driving in more extreme cases.
Motorists and passengers captured not wearing a seatbelt could be given an on-the-spot penalty of £100, rising to £500 if found guilty in court.
The cameras aim to deter dangerous driving, improve safety on the roads and reduce the number of motoring incidents where people are killed or seriously injured.
The scheme has already been trialled on roads across ten regions, including Greater Manchester, Sussex and Northamptonshire.
Safety cameras are currently being used on major roads, including motorways and A-roads.
The current National Highways trial of the AI cameras began on 19 February and will run until March 2025.
Jake Smith, director of Absolute Reg, said: “The introduction of the AI cameras will inevitably catch many drivers out on UK roads, leaving them with hefty fines and penalties.
“Although It is illegal to hold or use a phone while driving, or travel without a seatbelt, unfortunately, many motorists fail to follow the rules.
“The cameras can spy inside a vehicle to catch law-breaking drivers and send their details to the police.
“The implementation of the new AI technology may seem like another ploy to get money from motorists, but introducing them is a positive step forward in making Britain's roads safer.”
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Drivers are four times more likely to be in a crash if on the phone
PASmith added that the cameras should make drivers think twice before driving dangerously, and reduce incidents where people are killed or seriously injured.
He added: “We expect the AI camera system will be deployed nationwide promptly once proven successful in police trials and catch out thousands of offenders.”
The National Highways trial was first launched in 2021 to spot when Britons were driving without seatbelts or on the phone by police.
Findings from the trial found that drivers are four times more likely to be in a crash if on the phone while driving and twice as likely to die in a crash if they don’t wear a seatbelt.