Wiltshire Police among ten forces selected for safety camera trial
The cameras can spot people using a mobile behind the wheel or driving without a seat belt
Last updated 23rd Feb 2024
Wiltshire Police is among 10 forces taking part in a National Highways trial of new safety cameras.
The technology can automatically detect when motorists aren't wearing a seatbelt or are using a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel.
Research shows an accident is four-times more likely when using a phone whilst driving and a death is twice as likely in a crash when not wearing a seatbelt.
The new kit is mounted to vehicle or trailer and has multiple cameras, giving officers a range of angles to see both driver and passengers.
How it works
Images captured of passing motorists are processed using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse if motorists could be using a handheld mobile phone or driving without a seatbelt.
They're then passed onto police to consider if action should be taken.
Fines for not wearing a seatbelt when driving can be as much as £500, along with penalty points.
A maximum fine of £1,000 can be handed out for using a mobile phone when driving, with six penalty points being issued.
The trial was initially launched in 2021 and is now being expanded to include forces across the UK to inform a future, nationwide roll-out.
This latest trial started this week (19/2) and will run until March 2025.
National Highways Head of National Road User Safety Delivery, Matt Staton, said:
“We know that distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts were key factors in a high number of incidents that resulted in people being killed or seriously injured.
“Working with our police partners we want to reduce such dangerous driving and reduce the risks posed to both the drivers and other people. We believe that using technology like this will make people seriously consider their driving behaviour.
“We will continue to invest in technology that could help make sure everyone using our roads gets home safe and well.”