AI traffic cameras could be watching you on the road

Police around the world using AI-powered cameras to crack down on behavior like texting behind the wheel and driving without a seatbelt.

Police around the world are using artificial intelligence-powered cameras to crack down on behavior like texting behind the wheel and driving without a seat belt.

The traffic cameras, which use AI to detect and flag certain driving behaviors, might make it easier to prosecute more people than ever before for driving infractions. 

And the use of the cameras is quickly spreading.

Acusensus, an Australian company, has worked with governments in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to roll out some of the AI traffic cameras. Its camera system, called “Heads Up,” uses AI to catch drivers who are texting while driving or aren’t wearing seat belts. The Heads Up cameras take pictures of every vehicle that passes by them, capturing images of their license plates, as well as their front seats. AI analyzes the images and determines how likely it is that a violation occurred, assigning each one a “confidence level.” 

The cameras have been widely tested in the U.K., where nearly half of the country’s police forces have tried them, and in Australia, where they’ve sparked debates about privacy and drawn media attention. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/ai-traffic-cameras-watching-road-rcna184169

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