Devon and Cornwall Police have described it as ‘truly alarming’ that its Acusensus AI cameras have spotted 109 children not wearing seat belts, among over 2,000 people spotted committing that offence on the counties’ A-roads in July and August.
Adrian Leisk, the head of road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police, has galled on the government to introduce seat belt offences to have penalty points associated with those who are caught. He believes that alongside the current £500 fine should be accompanied by three points on the offender’s licence.
Leisk also stated that police officers would be visiting the legal guardians of the 109 children caught not wearing seat belts for a ‘safeguarding check’.
He said: “I’m struggling to understand why people think it’s OK not to wear a seat belt, particularly young people in their vehicles.
“In the event of a forward collision or if the vehicle were to brake sharply, the weight of the parent would crush the child against the front of the car.”
The AI cameras, positioned higher than traditional speed and security cameras seen across UK roads, have been introduced in the region in recent years in a series of trials – and have caught drivers using mobile phones, passengers using the steering wheel, alongside not wearing seat belts.
AI cameras use advanced vehicle monitoring systems that can see inside the vehicles to monitor and analyse driver activity – and then the results are sent to the local police force to analyse.
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “AI-equipped cameras that can automatically detect drivers breaking the law offer a chance for the tide to be turned. The police can’t be everywhere all of the time, so it makes sense that forces look to the best available technology that can help them catch drivers acting illegally.”
(Pic – RAC)
