Smart Cameras Set for Trial: Identifying Phone Misuse in Public Spaces

Essex Police is set to trial state-of-the-art cameras designed to identify drivers not wearing seatbelts and using mobile phones. The high-definition AI technology, developed by tech company Acusensus, has already been deployed by other police forces across England.

The cameras are expected to be mounted on relocatable trailers parked along the roadside in Essex. Motorists who violate traffic rules can receive warning letters or face fines and prosecution as a result of being detected by these cameras.

Essex Police’s head of roads policing, Adam Pipe, expressed his satisfaction with the technology, stating that it has been effective in detecting offenses even when officers are not present at the roadside. According to Mr. Pipe, “The picture quality is brilliant and they are detecting offense numbers that we would simply never detect by an officer being present at the roadside.”

However, he emphasized the importance of individual responsibility and encouraged motorists to speak out against others’ unsafe behaviors on the road. He said, “It might be the difference for you as an individual going home and seeing your kids again or not getting home because you’ve answered that call.”

The manufacturer of the cameras, Acusensus, has already partnered with 19 police regions in England and Wales. Geoff Collins, UK general manager at the firm, stated that there would always be a human element involved before any further action is taken against drivers detected by these cameras.