New roadside cameras can detect drivers using a mobile phone behind the wheel
NEW ROADSIDE cameras could soon be used to pick up drivers using their mobile phones behind the wheel.
UK mobile phone driving laws explained by the RAC
Enforcement technology company Jenoptik said it is working on a new tool that could identify drivers breaking the law in seconds. The new technology will use AI technology to automatically spot when someone is on a device.
The tool is also built to detect anyone who is not wearing seatbelt when behind the wheel.
All images taken will be double-checked by a human for verification before any penalty is issued.
The news comes after last weeks’ announcement that the Government is set to crack down on mobile phone users.
New laws will ban drivers from touching their phones while behind the wheel, even if not for communicative reasons.
READ MORE: Mobile phone laws should ‘completely outlaw’ hands-free
Anyone caught using a device will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six penalty points on their driving licence.
Geoff Collins, a Director at Jenoptik said “appropriate enforcement” was needed to get people to comply to the changes.
He said: “Our role at Jenoptik is to make the roads safer, and so we fully support these new rules because they will close loopholes that have meant irresponsible people getting away with dangerously using their mobiles, while driving.
“But as we all know, there’s a difference between a law being in place, and people obeying it.
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“For that, you need appropriate enforcement.
“The good news is that we have been testing a roadside solution that uses Artificial Intelligence to automatically spot when someone is using a mobile device or not wearing a seatbelt, and we’re therefore able to automatically identify those rulebreakers.
“This means we can take pictures of their offence, let a human double-check it, and then any penalty can be issued.”
Jenoptik has worked closely with Australian firm Acusenseus on the new technology.
Acusenses have successfully implemented a mobile phone enforcement camera program in New South Wales.
They claim since the start of the scheme in 2019, there has been a significant reduction in fatalities compared to other parts of Australia.
Jenoptik said they hoped the new technology could be rolled out to the UK as early as the New Year.
Mr Collins added: “We are confident in our solution, consistently identifying hundreds of potential violations every week.
“An enforcement officer makes the final check.
“But the technology sifts out the dangerous drivers to vastly increase the chances that those irresponsible enough to use their phone whilst driving will be caught.”