Suffolk Police joins other forces using AI to catch drivers

Why it matters: Unlawful mobile phone use and failing to wear a seatbelt are two of the "Fatal 4" main causes of serious or fatal collisions on Suffolk's roads, alongside drink or drug driving and speeding. Both have been identified as contributory factors in a number of collisions in the county in which people have been killed or seriously injured.

The details: The cameras, which went live on Monday, 27 July, use high-definition sensors and infrared flash to capture clear images through windscreens, day or night, in all weather conditions. Two camera angles capture both steep and shallow views, with the units typically mounted on trailers positioned to look down into vehicles.

• The technology is manufactured by Acusensus, whose Heads-Up system can also detect speeding and unregistered vehicles via automatic number plate recognition, though Suffolk's deployment is focused specifically on phone use and seatbelts.
• Images are analysed in real time by AI software, which identifies potential offences before at least two trained human assessors – without access to personal data – review them.
• If a potential offence is confirmed, the image is uploaded securely to Suffolk Constabulary via systems already used for other road safety camera offences, where a dedicated police team decides whether to proceed.
• The vast majority of images are automatically deleted in real time and never seen by a person. Images selected for review are cropped and anonymised, with number plates removed. The system does not use facial recognition.

The bigger picture: Suffolk is following forces including Sussex Police, which introduced the same technology in April this year. A 2024 National Highways trial in Sussex identified 458 offences over seven days – 330 for not wearing a seatbelt, 118 for mobile phone use and 10 for both – though no drivers were processed for offences during that trial.

What they're saying: Chief Inspector Gary Miller, Head of Suffolk's Roads & Armed Policing Team, said: "Mobile phone use and failing to wear a seatbelt remain significant contributors to death and serious injury on our roads.

"This project will help us better understand the scale of these behaviours in Suffolk while supporting our ongoing efforts to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured.

"The vast majority of motorists travel responsibly and we know they share our concerns about the dangers posed by distraction and other avoidable risks behind the wheel."

Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said: "I am a great believer in using technology to improve policing and these new AI cameras will more easily identify drivers who resist wearing seat belts and use their mobile devices whilst driving.

"These cameras will help us to really appreciate the scale of this issue and hopefully, knowing these are in use will encourage the reckless drivers who flout the rules to buckle up and not use mobile devices.

"Every irresponsible driver we can stop, is hopefully another safer and more considerate driver on our roads."

For context: The cameras' launch coincides with the final week of Operation Spotlight, a month-long campaign focused on the Fatal 4 offences. Suffolk Constabulary has previously trialled the technology to gather data on the extent of seatbelt non-compliance and phone use in the county, and this project is intended to deepen that understanding. Data collected will be shared with other forces and road safety partners, and will feed into a national knowledge base.

What's next: The cameras will remain in place for several weeks before being reviewed and evaluated. Suffolk Constabulary's Road Safety Team will publish the results and findings once the project concludes. Drivers caught by the cameras will typically be offered an educational course, similar to those used for speeding offences, though a fine or prosecution may follow in some cases.

The bottom line: Suffolk becomes the latest force to embrace AI camera technology, with police hoping the anywhere-anytime approach will change driver behaviour on the county's roads before enforcement data is reviewed later this year.

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