Driver warning as “game-changing” new cameras could land you with a £200 fine
A CRACKDOWN on drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel has caught more than 15,000 motorists in just six months.
Drivers are being warned not to break road rules and new cameras are able to scout out motorists using their phone behind the wheel.
New artificial intelligence is being trialled on an undisclosed motorway in the UK to catch motorists breaking .
Rules on using your phone while driving have been tightened up, and breaking them could get you a £200 fine.
Now new camera technology is able to take clear, birds-eye-view shots of drivers through their car windscreen.
Once a camera identifies someone holding a phone, the image is passed on to a human moderator for review.
And there is little room for mistakes, as the cameras produce high-definition images that avoid blurring even if a vehicle is travelling up to 185mph.
The trial findings suggest a staggering one in 200 drivers use their phone while on the motorway.
Most read in Motors
Shockingly, a single camera caught 15,000 people with a phone in their hand in just six months of the trial.
The actual number of drivers using their phones is thought to be even higher though, as the cameras in the trial were not in use 24/7 and did not cover all lanes of the motorway being monitored.
Drivers snapped by these cameras will not be penalised as the trial is deemed "proof of concept" until laws change to enforce fines as a result of the AI.
In 2020, the said there were more than 10,000 accidents recorded where the driver was deemed distracted.
At least 368 of these were due to mobile phone usage.
Drivers who take their eyes off the road for just two seconds while travelling at 30mph are said to drive "blind" for 100ft.
The fine for driving and using a mobile phone went up last year, and anyone who is caught red-handed will now be fined £200 and could be given 6 penalty points on their licence.
The rule change has snuffed out the legal loophole that allowed drivers to scroll through music, take pictures or record videos on their phones.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, told The Sun; “The AA has campaigned hard to tackle drivers using a hand-held mobile phone when driving.
“The use of these cameras is a good step and should act as a reminder that drivers could be caught anywhere at any time."
“The ultimate responsibility lies with the driver. You can’t accidentally pick up your mobile phone, so it should be kept out of sight and out of reach. Converting your glovebox into a phonebox is one of the best ways to avoid temptation.”
If you're not sure what is and isn't allowed behind the wheel when it comes to your mobile phone, we explain the rules are and what the consequences of breaking them are.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Many people rely heavily on sat-navs to get them from A to B, but those who use their phones for directions need to be clear on the rules - we outline them here.
Breaking driving laws can land you with a hefty fine, penalty points and potentially a driving ban. Here's how to check your points and avoid losing your license.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Money team?
Email us at [email protected]