New AI cameras have been deployed in vans to record drivers using their phones while driving or driving without a seatbelt.
During a 12-hour evaluation in March, South Gloucestershire Council discovered 150 individuals not wearing seatbelts and seven drivers preoccupied by their cell phones.
Pamela Williams, the council's road safety education manager, stated, "We believe that using technology like this will make people seriously consider their driving behaviour."
According to figures, 425 people sustained injuries on South Gloucestershire roads in 2023, with 69 critically injured or killed.
Throughout the survey, vans were equipped with mounted artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The devices monitored passing vehicles and determined whether drivers were infringing traffic laws.
If a likely violation was spotted, the images were submitted to at least two specially experienced highways operators for inspection. There were no fixed penalty notices issued, and photographs that were not found to be in violation were automatically deleted.
The authorities stated that it was just utilising the technology for surveys, not enforcement.
Dave Adams, a road safety officer, helped conduct the area's first survey. He went on to say: "This is a survey so we can understand driver behaviour that will actually fit in with other bits of our road safety strategy to help make our roads safer.”
Ms Williams noted that "distracted drivers" and those who do not wear seatbelts are contributing contributors to road fatalities.
"Working with our partners we want to reduce such dangerous driving and reduce the risks posed to both the drivers and other people."
Fatalities remain high
Dr Jamie Uff, Aecom's lead research specialist in charge of the technology's deployment, stated: Despite attempts by road safety agencies to modify behaviour via education, the number of individuals killed or badly wounded as a result of these risky driving practices remains high.
"The use of technology like this, makes detection of these behaviours straightforward and is providing valuable insight to the police and policy makers.”