What do the new AI road cameras that have caught 10,000 drivers look like
Since 2023, Devon & Cornwall Police have been trialing AI-controlled road cameras that detect drivers breaking seatbelt and mobile phone laws. So far, more than 10,000 drivers have been fined:
6,000 for not wearing seatbelts.
4,000 for using mobile phones while driving.
The system, called Acusensus Heads-Up, uses two cameras to capture front-facing images. AI analyzes the photos, and at least two human reviewers confirm violations before fines are issued. The cameras can also function as speed cameras.
Police report a 50% drop in seatbelt offences and a 33% drop in phone offences at trial locations, with fewer than 1% of drivers breaking the rules.
The Acusensus cameras differ from traditional yellow-box speed cameras: they are mounted on large T-shaped stands with two black cameras attached.
Similar trials are running in other UK regions, including Manchester and Essex. The government is also preparing its biggest road safety law update in a decade, expected this autumn.
other UK road cameras:
Speed cameras (yellow box) – monitor speeding.
Red light cameras – catch drivers running red lights.
Average speed cameras – measure speed over road sections.
Mobile speed cameras – mounted on vans for flexible use.