New AI-Powered Cameras Helping to Keep the Roads Safer

2025-03-24

Traditional speed cameras have long been fixtures on our roadways, silently monitoring vehicles and capturing evidence of speed violations. However, a new generation of intelligent surveillance technology is rapidly changing how authorities monitor driving behavior and enforce safety regulations.

Mobile speed camera – illustrative photo. Image credit: Denny Müller via Unsplash, free license

These cutting-edge AI-powered cameras are another evolutionary step in road safety-related monitoring technology, with roadside monitoring capabilities on entirely another level. Unlike their predecessors that focused solely on speed violations, these smart systems can simultaneously detect multiple infractions, including mobile phone use while driving and failure to wear seatbelts.

Beyond Speed: Multi-Infraction Detection

The sophisticated technology employs a multi-camera configuration that captures various angles of both driver and passengers. The integrated artificial intelligence analyzes this footage in real-time, identifying behaviors that compromise road safety.

According to experts from car repair finance group Bumper: “The system uses a multi-camera setup to capture different views of the driver and passengers, with artificial intelligence analysing the footage to detect speed-related offences.”

This represents a significant advancement in road safety enforcement, as distracted driving and failure to use safety restraints remain leading contributors to traffic accidents and fatalities worldwide.

AI Analysis with Human Verification

While the AI technology performs the initial detection work, human judgment remains an essential component of the enforcement process. “Any violations flagged by AI must still be reviewed and verified by police officers before fines are issued,” note the experts at Bumper.

This human-in-the-loop approach ensures accuracy and appropriate context consideration before penalties are imposed. Companies like SentiVeillance are at the forefront of developing these verification systems that balance automated detection with human oversight.

SentiVeillance’s technology utilizes advanced neural networks to analyze visual data with remarkable precision while maintaining a streamlined verification workflow for law enforcement personnel. Their platform can be integrated with existing camera infrastructure using API and other standardized tools provided by the developer.

Proven Effectiveness in Early Camera Deployments

The early results from these camera systems demonstrate their effectiveness in identifying safety violations that might otherwise go undetected. During initial trial periods, these intelligent cameras caught 590 drivers without seatbelts and 40 using their phones in just a few weeks.

Following these promising results, “The programme has now expanded in 2024 to include 10 police forces across the country, covering areas such as Durham, Greater Manchester, and Sussex,” according to industry reports.

Drivers caught by these new AI surveillance systems face substantial financial penalties. Using a mobile phone while driving currently carries a £200 fine and six penalty points on the offender’s license. This penalty can escalate to £1,000 if the case goes to court, or as high as £2,500 for professional drivers operating lorries or buses.

Similarly, failure to wear a seatbelt incurs an initial £100 fine, which may increase to £500 upon court prosecution.

Education and Deterrence

Despite the advanced detection capabilities, law enforcement officials emphasize that visibility and education remain central to their road safety strategy. As Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer Gareth Thomas explains: “It’s all about being fair, education and preventing an accident. Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away.”

This philosophy aligns with research showing that driver awareness of monitoring technologies contributes significantly to compliance with road safety regulations.

For certain speeding offenses, authorities may offer drivers the option to attend a speed awareness course instead of accepting penalty points on their license. Thomas notes: “An accredited course is far more likely to improve driver behaviour and consequently make our roads safer.”

These courses are typically available to drivers who were traveling at no more than “10 per cent, plus 9 mph above the posted speed limit” and who respond promptly to violation notices.

Creating Safer Roads Through Technology

The implementation of these AI-powered cameras represents a comprehensive approach to improving road safety that goes beyond simple enforcement. By identifying multiple risk behaviors simultaneously, authorities can address the complex factors that contribute to traffic accidents.

As a representative from Bumper concluded: “With so many drivers caught not wearing their belts and on their phones, the results speak for themselves – the more drivers fined for these simple errors, the fewer accidents we’ll see, making our roads a safer place for everyone.”

Systems from providers like SentiVeillance continue to evolve, incorporating additional detection capabilities and improving accuracy through machine learning algorithms that adapt to changing driver behaviors and vehicle designs.

The Future of Road Monitoring

As these technologies mature, we can expect further integration with other traffic management systems and potentially even communication with connected vehicles. The goal remains consistent: leveraging advanced technology to reduce risky driving behaviors and ultimately save lives on our roadways.

With proper implementation, transparency about their use, and continued focus on education alongside enforcement, these AI-powered cameras represent a promising development in the ongoing effort to improve road safety for all users.

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Source: Ham&High

Written by Alius Noreika