Spotting Texting Drivers with AI Cameras
Would you ever drive down your local high road at 50 kilometers per hour wearing a blindfold? Probably not, but that's effectively what millions of drivers do every day when they compose, send and read text messages while behind the wheel. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving.
To try and catch and penalize texting drivers, artificial intelligence cameras have been activated in New South Wales, Australia.
The system was launched on December 1, and uses high-definition cameras to snap the front-row cabin space of vehicles. It works day and night and in all weather conditions.
If the automated system considers a driver is likely to be using a mobile phone illegally, the images are passed to authorized personnel for verification.
During the first three months of operation drivers spotted by the AI will receive a warning letter, but after that, they could face a fine.
"Some people have not got the message about using their phones legally and safely," said Andrew Constance, Minister for Roads.
"If they think they can continue to put the safety of themselves, their passengers and the community at risk without consequence, they are in for a rude shock."
Successful Trials
The system was trialled in the early part of this year and detected 100,000 drivers using a mobile illegally.
NSW believe their artificial intelligence detection system is a world first, and by 2023 hope to have 45 cameras in their expanded network.
For more information, the Transport for NSW authority has created a special web page.
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