In Devon and Cornwall, a groundbreaking pilot program is utilizing advanced AI-powered road safety cameras to identify drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This initiative combines existing technology used to detect mobile phone usage and seatbelt violations with state-of-the-art radars, marking a significant advancement in road safety.
Devon and Cornwall's police, in collaboration with Acusensus, aim to observe vehicle dynamics. Geoff Collins of Acusensus explains that the system evaluates driving patterns and flags anomalies for further investigation by an intercept team.
The AI mimics human observation by considering numerous variables. Collins emphasizes the goal of balancing false positives and negatives to identify impaired drivers effectively, enhancing road safety without being intrusive.
Following successful trials of "super cameras" for spotting seatbelt and mobile phone infractions, addressing impaired driving presents new challenges due to its real-time nature. This pilot, conducted during the holiday season, is part of the broader Vision Zero South West initiative, which also offers a night bus service to promote safe festivities.
The deployment of AI in road safety is a promising step toward reducing impaired driving incidents. As the trial progresses, its outcomes could reshape how law enforcement approaches road safety worldwide.
In summary, Devon and Cornwall's AI-enhanced road cameras are pioneering new methods to detect impaired drivers, promising to make roads safer.