New AI cameras are set to revolutionise enforcement against driving offences, with the RAC’s spokesperson Simon Williams highlighting the escalating issue of drug driving. He commented: “This innovative use of AI technology has the potential to take drink and drug-driving enforcement to the next level as it appears to be able to identify offenders far more easily and efficiently than police officers ever could on their own.”
He added, “As the system is based on technology that has already proved successful in catching drivers using handheld mobile phones and those not wearing seat belts, we are hopeful it will do so here too. Sadly, drug driving appears to be a growing problem, with DVLA data showing 33,020 British drivers were convicted of the offence multiple times in the 11 years to 20 July, 2024, so improved enforcement might well lead to even more drivers being caught breaking the law.”
Geoff Collins, UK General Manager of Acusensus, the firm behind the cutting-edge AI speed cameras, emphasised the significance of the new tech in combating drink and drug-driving across the nation. He stated: “Driving while impaired is incredibly dangerous and quite often you only find out that a driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs after a collision has occurred. We are all safer if we can detect impairment before it causes an incident which could ruin lives.”
“We believe this technology could be a really important tool in this battle, both detecting and also deterring impaired drivers behind the wheel.”
Last year, Vision Zero South West rolled out a 15-day pilot which leveraged a vehicle-mounted system from Acusensus that caught 590 seatbelt infringements and 45 mobile phone violations on diverse roads throughout Devon and Cornwall. The cutting-edge standalone system offers enhanced flexibility in placement and can be strategically relocated to various sites across the counties for round-the-clock surveillance, reports Birmingham Live.