Acusensus AI distracted driving camera technology will be deployed in Scotland for the first time to monitor the amount of drivers who use mobile phones behind the wheel and don’t wear seatbelts.
Transport Scotland says the issues are two of the ‘Fatal-5’ high-risk driver behaviours, with almost one in four road users killed on Scotland’s roads not wearing a seatbelt. As part of Scotland’s estimated 4.7 million daily vehicle journeys, around 169,000 drivers are estimated to not use seatbelts and over 28,000 may use handheld devices every day.
It says this survey will collect data on the scale of these problems to inform enforcement strategies in the future, help drivers understand the risks of mobile phone use and not using seatbelts, and ultimately guide road safety investment.
The survey will monitor behaviours at 12 different locations across Scotland from this week for the next 6 months, covering various road types – urban, rural, trunk and local roads, as well as roadworks. This will be the largest survey of its kind, ever undertaken in the UK.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “We know mobile phone use behind the wheel and seatbelt non-compliance are two of the highest risk driver behaviours, and present significant dangers on Scotland’s roads. This trial will give us the most comprehensive picture yet of the scale of these issues.
“Recent statistics show that almost a quarter of in-car fatalities involve non-seatbelt use and tens of thousands of drivers continue to use mobile phones behind the wheel on a daily basis. We cannot allow that to continue, and this trial will help inform the next steps in tackling these behaviours through enforcement, education and targeted investment.
“The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to our goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030. The use of new technology to tackle some of the most dangerous driver behaviour will help us achieve that goal.”
Geoff Collins from Acusensus, the company behind the camera technology, added: “As the UK’s largest ever survey of mobile phone and seatbelt use, this project will provide clear evidence for the scale of poor driving behaviours on Scottish roads.
“We know from existing operational schemes that this knowledge gives us a chance to change bad habits, which will result in fewer avoidable collisions and casualties”.
The technology is already deployed, with figures showing an effect on driving behaviour, in Devon and Cornwall.
(Picture – Acusensus)
