The UK General Manager of road safety technology company Acusensus has hailed the initial results from a trial of technology to detect road use and behaviour consistent with drivers who may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Devon and Cornwall Police is trialling the technology over the Christmas period. It uses AI-powered cameras to analyse the behaviour of drivers and suggest which may be impaired by drink or drugs.
Although specific data on subsequent tests is yet to be made public by the police, Geoff Collins says the early results from the first trials are “very encouraging”.
“The system is able to capture and analyse data from multiple locations, whilst providing a live alert to a police intercept team,” Mr Collins told Highways News. “As an ongoing development, it is exciting how this concept will evolve, but we are already seeing a link between monitored driving behaviours and the use of alcohol and drugs.”
The camera system, which is based on the company’s existing mobile phone and seatbelt technology, can be moved to different locations where police have intelligence about potential drink or drug driving offences. It will also provide Devon and Cornwall Police with intelligence around vehicles which may be driven by impaired drivers.
The trial is taking place throughout December to coincide with other drink-driving campaigns such as Lift Legend, Operation Limit and new Night Bus services in parts of Torbay and North Devon, and is part of Vision Zero South West’s efforts to reduce incidents of impaired driving and cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on Devon and Cornwall’s roads.
“Because the new impaired solution shares so much with our existing ‘Heads Up’ mobile phone and seatbelt monitoring technology, we have an opportunity to directly address another of the ‘fatal five’ driving behaviours, which should make our roads safer for everyone,” Mr Collins concluded.
The technology has been featured on local BBC news. Watch here (first two and a half minutes of the programme):
(Picture – Acusensus)
