Drivers face new 'next level' traffic cameras in crackdown on two rules

New AI cameras will take enforcement "to the next level" with drivers at risk. The RAC's spokesperson Simon Williams stressed that drug driving was now a "growing problem” with new technology likely to play a key role in fighting back.

He said: "This innovative use of AI technology has the potential to take drink and drug-driving enforcement to the next level as it appears to be able to identify offenders far more easily and efficiently than police officers ever could on their own.

"As the system is based on technology that has already proved successful in catching drivers using handheld mobile phones and those not wearing seat belts, we are hopeful it will do so here too. Sadly, drug driving appears to be a growing problem, with DVLA data showing 33,020 British drivers were convicted of the offence multiple times in the 11 years to 20 July, 2024, so improved enforcement might well lead to even more drivers being caught breaking the law."

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Geoff Collins, UK General Manager of Acusensus, which is responsible for creating the artificial intelligence (AI) speed cameras, stressed the new technology would prove pivotal for tackling drink and drug-driving in the UK.

He said: "Driving while impaired is incredibly dangerous and quite often you only find out that a driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs after a collision has occurred. We are all safer if we can detect impairment before it causes an incident which could ruin lives.

"We believe this technology could be a really important tool in this battle, both detecting and also deterring impaired drivers behind the wheel." Last year, Vision Zero South West conducted a 15-day trial of a larger, vehicle-based system from Acusensus which detected 590 seatbelt and 45 mobile phone offences across various roads in both Devon and Cornwall.

The new free-standing system can be easily moved and can be deployed at various locations across Devon and Cornwall, providing 24/7 monitoring.