New AI-powered cameras could soon be catching people who are not wearing a seatbelt or using their phone while driving.
Gardaí are currently examining a range of new “opportunities for emerging technologies and innovation” as the force prepares for a €100 million upgrade to its traffic-monitoring system.
'Much more advanced'
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert said the new tech could reinvent the way the rules of the road are policed.
“The Guards are looking at technology that will not only just detect what speed drivers are doing but a range of things from not wearing seatbelts, using mobile phones,” she said.
"Even bus lane usage and compliance with traffic lights.
“So, much more advanced speed cameras.”
Ms Herbert believes the technology would work well here.
“An image is taken of the driver in the car and then it’s verified by a human,” she said.
“So, it’s not just that you let some AI system determine whether or not it’s the driver… before any penalty will be sent out.
“This technology has been rolled out in other jurisdictions and it works very effectively, so that would work here as well.”
A sign for Average Speed Camera Enforcement at Dublin Port Tunnel, 31-05-2017. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsWhen asked if there were issues with privacy, Ms Herbert said such concerns were outweighed by road safety.
“The fact of the matter is, unless… there’s a real chance drivers will be caught, they won’t modify their behaviour,” she said.
“We know that because… of the success of those [speed cameras] on the M7 between junction 25 and 26; compliance with the speed limit went up from 69% to over 95%.
“So, it’s hard to see a downside to be honest.”
Last year, there were 1,373 speed cameras in Ireland and 2.2 million speeding tickets have been issued.
Main image: A driver using his phone. Picture by: Alamy.com
