UK police van with artificial intelligence detects drivers using mobile phones

British police have equipped a police van with artificial intelligence cameras that identify drivers using a smartphone at the wheel.

Here's What We Know

Hampshire and Isle of Wight law enforcement officers, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, carried out an operation from 17 to 21 July aimed at identifying commercial vehicles. It took place on the A34 and A303 motorways.

The van, which is equipped with artificial intelligence, uses two cameras to capture footage. The first is mounted at a low angle and can detect whether a mobile phone is near the driver's ear and whether the seatbelt is fastened.

The second is positioned at a steeper angle and can determine whether the smartphone is being used for texting.

Once offences are automatically identified by the artificial intelligence system, the results are cross-checked by a human and then passed to the police for review.

According to Simon Gomer, head of road safety enforcement, law enforcement officers identified 86 drivers suspected of using a phone while driving during the operation. 273 drivers or passengers were not using a seatbelt.

Police also identified 132 mechanical offences relating to vehicle problems.

Source: BBC