Are You Wearing Your Seatbelt – New AI Technology Extended

National Highways and police forces across the UK are expanding the trial of innovative technology designed to automatically detect drivers not wearing seatbelts or using mobile phones while driving.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is part of an ongoing effort to improve road safety for all private and motor trade drivers. As technology advances, law enforcement and local authorities are adopting new methods to catch offenders.

Some motorists still engage in dangerous practices like using mobile phones whilst driving. The fine for this offence was doubled to £200 with six penalty points in 2017, yet the problem persists.

AI Trialled to Help Catch Motoring Offences

AI speed cameras can detect if a driver uses a mobile phone or if someone in the vehicle is not wearing a seatbelt. These cameras also monitor vehicle speed, capturing the vehicle’s make, model, and number plate. The AI-generated images provide detailed views of the vehicle’s interior, helping authorities assess the situation more accurately.

These AI systems, connected to the UK police and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) databases, also check for vehicle tax and motor insurance policy violations.

Mounted on the roadside or in vehicles, cameras are positioned higher than traditional speed cameras, giving them a better vantage point. Department for Transport (DfT) statistics reveal that 400,000 drivers are caught using a mobile device while driving annually, justifying the need for advanced technology.

AI cameras specifically designed to detect mobile phone usage behind the wheel are known as the Consensus System. This technology uses multiple cameras to capture images of drivers breaking the law. The AI processes the footage, which human operators review before taking legal action.

Research highlights that in the initial phases of the trial, drivers using mobile phones are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. At the same time, those not wearing seatbelts are twice as likely to suffer fatal injuries.

Trial Success May Lead to National Roll-Out

The trial’s success has led to its extension until March 2025. The goal is to evaluate further how this technology could be effectively deployed on National Highways for a nationwide rollout.

Authorities started piloting AI speed cameras in early 2023. An AI camera equipped with 4D radar technology was installed along the A23 in Lambeth, London, capable of scanning the interiors of vehicles.

The UK’s first free-standing AI road safety camera was deployed in August 2023, catching nearly 300 drivers between Devon and Cornwall in its first three days of operation.

This innovative system detected 117 mobile phone offences and 180 seatbelt violations. You should notify your insurance broker immediately if found guilty of any motoring offence.

While mobile speed cameras remain a tool for the police in residential areas and accident hotspots, these new AI-based systems offer a more sophisticated approach to detecting and addressing dangerous driving behaviours.

Whether installed in marked or unmarked vehicles or operated by officers using laser radar guns, these technologies reshape road safety enforcement across the UK.

The expansion of this AI trial signals a step forward in creating safer roads, with the potential for a nationwide rollout of these smart enforcement tools.