Bid to fund AI camera on high risk Devon road

The technology was trialled over a four-week period in the summer

Council officials want to use road safety funding to install an artificial intelligence [AI] camera on a road that was categorised as high risk of death and serious injury.

Devon County Council was awarded more than £5m in March from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund to improve safety on the A361.

Following evidence gathered during an AI camera pilot over the summer, it will bid to use £600,000 of that funding on the technology to target unsafe driving habits.

Devon councillor Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways management, said the pilot revealed a high number of people driving without wearing a seatbelt or while using a mobile phone.

During the pilot 1,799 potential offences were detected over a four-week period.

These included 1,363 instances where a seat belt was not worn and 436 mobile phone distraction offences.

Each is being reviewed by officers at Vision Zero South West, a partnership which includes Devon and Cornwall Police and the council and aims to reduce serious and fatal collisions.

Hughes, who is also vice chair of Vision Zero South West, said: "I'm particularly keen on the use of the latest technology and innovation to target drivers with unsafe driving habits.

"Through using state-of-the-art technology, we want to reduce these dangerous driving practices and make our roads safer for everyone."

'Penalty points'

Adrian Leisk, head of road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We don’t use these camera systems to catch people, we use them to keep motorists safe by encouraging them to wear a seatbelt and not use their phones while driving.

"But if you are caught, you can expect either a driver education course or a fine and penalty points."

The route in north Devon between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe was one of 17 roads in England designated as high risk and received the highest amount of funding from the Safer Roads Fund.

Other improvements along the route such as speed management and junction upgrades as well as better pedestrian facilities, could also be made.