Australia: Artificial intelligence recognizes who is using a cell phone behind the wheel

Australia
Artificial intelligence recognizes when you are using your cell phone behind the wheel – 270,000 drivers have already been caught

The world’s first cameras in Australia to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognize drivers with cell phones on their ears have already captured tens of thousands of perpetrators and seem to deter many from making illegal phone calls while driving.

The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has been imposing fines since March 2020 on those road users among the 130 million cars checked who used their phones illegally. This affected more than 270,000 drivers, as summarized by the BBC, which was the first to report the results of the analysis.

Green cities

Mobility mix – this is what future traffic will look like in cities

Back
Continue

Australia imposes fines of up to 290 euros for illegal cell phone use while driving

Drivers discovered in the first three months since the introduction of the new system only received a warning. A first test of the tool in 2019 had successfully discovered 100,000 drivers who were using a cell phone illegally. “Some people do not seem to have understood the rules on how to use their phones legally and safely,” said Andrew Constance, the responsible Minister of Transport, in an interview with the BBC. “If these people think that they can continue to jeopardize the safety of themselves, their passengers and other road users without any consequences, they now face severe sanctions.”

interview

Bicycle death trap

Accident researcher explains: These are the dangers for cyclists in traffic and this is how they could be minimized

11/01/2021

According to the Ministry of Transport, the surveillance system will be expanded to a total of 45 of the cameras equipped with AI by 2023. The authority announced that they consider the detection system to be a world first. It uses high-resolution cameras to take photos of the interiors of vehicles in “all weather conditions”. “Images that the automated system believes are likely to show a driver illegally using a mobile phone are checked by authorized personnel,” the responsible ministry said on its website.

After the three-month introductory period, drivers who were recorded by the cameras received penalty points and a fine of up to the equivalent of 290 euros.

Sources:Ministry of Transport NSW, BBC

km