AI System Identifies 19,000 Road Offences in Six Months Across Devon and Cornwall

A recent trial deploying an artificial intelligence-powered mobile camera has identified close to 19,000 road offences in Devon and Cornwall over a six-month operational period. The technology, mounted on a van, captured numerous instances of drivers using mobile phones and failing to wear seatbelts, underscoring persistent public safety concerns.

Devon and Cornwall Police reported that 11,100 individuals were observed not wearing seatbelts, while 7,800 were recorded using mobile phones while driving. One particularly stark image captured a front-seat passenger holding a small child on their lap, neither secured by a seatbelt.

Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety for the Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, stated that approximately 80% of those detected committed a seatbelt offence. He highlighted the significant risk posed by these behaviours, noting that failing to wear a seatbelt is one of the primary factors contributing to serious injuries and fatalities on UK roads.

The system, provided by the firm Acusensus, does not automatically issue fines. Instead, images undergo human review by two police staff members before further action is determined. Mr Leisk indicated that the intention is to deploy similar technology across additional forces, emphasising its role in identifying patterns of risky driving rather than solely prosecuting individual incidents. He also referenced the wider adoption of such technology in Australia, where it has led to a reduction in road fatalities.