In the southwest of England, the police are now using special AI cameras to detect drunk driving. With the upcoming holidays and the approaching New Year, the number of celebrations increases, and so does the number of car journeys under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the UK, a campaign for prevention and education is launched every December.
This year, a special AI premiere is part of the measures. In the southwestern counties of Devon and Cornwall, mobile camera systems have been in use for some time, aiming to detect unusual driving behavior influenced by alcohol or drugs using artificial intelligence, as reported by the BBC. The cameras are mounted on trailers and can be relocated and used at relevant junctions as needed.
The company behind the camera system is the British firm Acusensus. The AI company has already deployed similar systems for detecting mobile phone use while driving and the absence of seat belts. They presented their mobile AI cameras in 2023 on X.
According to Geoff Collins, General Manager at Acusensus, the cameras currently being tested are a premiere. “We are pleased to conduct the world’s first tests of this technology here in Devon and Cornwall,” the BBC quotes.
Throughout December, the system is expected to be used multiple times as part of further preventive measures against drunk driving and will be deployed ahead of police checks. The aim is for the AI to assist in deciding which drivers should be checked by police officers for alcohol or drug consumption.
As reported on their website, Acusensus’s AI system captures “high-resolution, legally admissible evidence of illegal driving behavior around the clock and in any weather.” It is also capable of independently detecting misconduct and autonomously taking evidence photos, apparently under all light and weather conditions.
The artificial intelligence is designed to minimize false alarms and reliably detect genuine violations. Additionally, it is possible for the system to detect and report speed or distance violations parallel to its primary area of deployment.
For possible future use in Germany, it is interesting to note that the cameras are supposed to reliably detect and document violations at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour.