Jack Loughran Mon 13 Apr 2026
Collected at: https://eandt.theiet.org/2026/04/13/ai-traffic-cameras-go-live-sussex-catch-dangerous-drivers-autonomously
A suite of AI-powered cameras are being deployed in Sussex to detect drivers who are using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt.
According to Sussex Police, over the last three years 82 people have been involved in a collision where someone was driving while using a mobile phone, and 214 people have been injured in a collision due to not wearing a seatbelt.
The deployment of the cameras follows a successful trial by National Highways in 2024, which saw 458 offences detected across seven days in Sussex. Of these, 330 were for a driver not wearing a seatbelt, 118 were for a driver using a mobile phone and 10 were for both offences combined.
The high-definition cameras come with an infrared flash that allows them to capture clear images through windscreens, day or night, and in all weather conditions. AI algorithms are then used to analyse the images in real time to identify potential offences, before being passed over to humans who will review the images.
They use two camera angles to capture steep and shallow views, mounted on trailers and positioned to look down on vehicles. They can detect multiple offences simultaneously and are able to take high-speed front-facing images of vehicles.
Sussex Police chief constable Jo Shiner said: “These AI cameras are not designed to replace modern day policing, but to enhance it. By embracing the technology available to us, we can build a better picture of driver behaviour, influence behavioural change and take action where necessary.
“It is statistically proven that not wearing a seatbelt and driving while distracted, which includes using a mobile phone, are among the five most common causes of fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads. We hope that this new initiative will help to reduce the number of these collisions, which so often cause absolute devastation to victims and their loved ones.”
The cameras, supplied by Acusensus, are funded through Sussex Police’s road safety recovery costs, which include proceeds from speed awareness courses.
The technology could be rolled out more widely in the UK, with trials also taking place in Greater Manchester in 2024 using the same technology.
Geoff Collins, UK general manager for Acusensus, said: “Appropriate use of new technology now allows us to identify and evidence this in a way that would be impractical for conventional roads policing. We have also seen impressive improvements to driving behaviours where the system is deployed, which I’m confident will be the case in Sussex.”
The cameras went live today and will remain in place for several weeks, before being reviewed and evaluated.
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