Drivers, robots and dashcams

Despite everyone knowing by now that there have been changes to the law regarding the use of mobile phones whilst driving, it would appear not everyone is abiding by the rules. This can, of course, have tragic outcomes and so a new camera system is being trialled by Devon and Cornwall police.

I, Robot

It involves the use of artificial intelligence to detect whether or not someone is using a mobile phone whilst driving a vehicle. Not only that, they will be able to detect if a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt and also the speed the vehicle is travelling at.

Once the AI has detected any one of these offences, the evidence will be reviewed by a human as well. If it is found to be correct, depending upon the offence, the driver will receive a warning letter and a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) which is then followed by a summons.

Consider this:

Distracted driving was the cause of 9% of all fatal accidents in 2019
5 million car crashes worldwide are caused by distracted drivers
The human brain takes 13 seconds to refocus after using a mobile phone
2% of crashes are caused by drinking and eating whilst driving
If a driver is distracted, it only takes 3 seconds for a crash to occur
24 530 people were killed or seriously injured on the UK roads from June 2020-2021

Dangerous Driving

The same police force issued 170 notices of intended prosecution in February due to some “unbelievably dangerous driving”. After viewing a few of the videos, we agree with this comment. We can only hope that the fines and points on licences are enough to deter such dangerous driving that puts everyone at risk of becoming another statistic.

Of course, and sadly, dangerous driving isn’t just restricted to Devon and Cornwall. Up and down the country, drivers take risks with their lives and other people’s lives with their dangerous driving.

Dashcam to the rescue

Some of the worst offenders who have been caught on dashcams have had fines and bans, thanks to members of the public supporting the drive (excuse the pun) by the police to name and shame dangerous drivers.

The police can’t be everywhere, and more and more people are installing dashcams. Not only is this possibly the best way to provide evidence, should you be unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, but it is also a way to fill in missing gaps as you may not be able to remember everything when making a claim.

They are especially helpful if you are a “crash for cash victim” ensuring you are correctly compensated and hopefully preventing anyone else from becoming a victim.

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