Fines for driving offences should be increased to fund the widespread rollout of Al traffic cameras across the UK, Jamie Hassall, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), has told Autocar.
He claimed this will quash a belief among a growing number of drivers that they are unlikely to be caught speeding or driving dangerously.
The latest generation of Al traffic cameras feature high-resolution imaging and ultra-fast processors that can detect if a driver is speeding, using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt. They can also automatically check all UK police and DVLA databases to check whether a vehicle is taxed and insured.
Around 200,000 drivers are found guilty of speed limit offences each year. Last year, almost five million penalty points were issued for driving offences, more than three-quarters of those for speeding.
To address this, PACTS’ Hassall recommends that fines are increased to help fund more speed cameras and Al cameras.
“Penalty points are a useful tool, but we need to increase the probability of bad drivers being caught,” he said.
“One way would be to increase fines for moving traffic offences from £100 to £500, using the money raised to fund more cameras and Al technology, in addition to police patrols and improved intelligence around drivers such as serial parking offenders, who are often dangerous drivers.
“You can get fined £150 for dropping litter, but no one dies. Speed awareness courses are useful, but second-time offenders deserve a much higher penalty.”
(Picture: Acusensus)
