People in favour of new Plymouth AI traffic cameras

'Be a good driver and don't break the law'

PlymouthLive readers have been having their say on Plymouth's new AI traffic cameras on Tavistock Road, designed to clamp down on dangerous behaviour such as driving without a seatbelt and using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Adrian Leisk, who leads road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police, underlined that the goal of these high-tech units isn't to catch out drivers but to encourage them to stay safe.

He said: "We don't want to catch people we just want motorists to stay safe by wearing a seatbelt and not using their phones while driving."

Councillor Mark Coker of Plymouth City Council threw his weight behind the initiative, stressing seatbelts' crucial role in traffic safety. Coker pointed out: "Wearing a seatbelt is the single most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in the event of a collision."

The technology behind the cameras leverages artificial intelligence to pinpoint possible violations, which are subsequently vetted by human eyes. Depending on how grave the infringement is, drivers could be slapped with warning letters or notices of intended prosecution.

After previous deployments across Devon and Cornwall showed encouraging signs, with dips in both seatbelt and mobile phone violations suggesting that such technology could lead to improved road user habits, there's a palpable sense of optimism regarding the latest implementation. Adrian Leisk voiced his hope that these smart cameras would cut down distractions and, in turn, reduce the number of life-threatening accidents.

The reader comments reveal a variety of views on the purpose and efficacy of these AI traffic cameras: One reader, Melvdrew02 writes: "It's the road-users that need protecting from themselves."

While Madcaplaughsagain says: "I'm sure that saving lives is the priority (cough). Maybe filling in the dangerous pot holes that plague our roads might make our roads safer, but that wouldn't raise any revenue, would it."

Toast4two adds: "They need to stop making cars that read your text to you as that's distracting and start making cars that disable phones whilst the vehicle is running or moving! If the temptation isn't there then people wouldn't be tempted!! None of these cameras are to do with safety! Its all about the money."

OverTheRiver comments: "So the AI cameras would catch those using phones whilst driving. Is that a bad thing? There seems to be a fair few paranoid people around these days. Wear seatbelt, don't be hands-on phone and don't speed. Not difficult, surely?

AJGreen adds: "It's a bit of both but brought on by the continually poor driving."

Pointyhead believes: "Safety of road users is our priority. Maybe fix the potholes that look like the Grand Canyon. Fed up of the crap road surfaces that are damaging/unsafe."

Sloopdog1 says: "Even though I agree with the use of mobile phones not being used while driving lets be brutally honest here it has nothing to do with protecting other road users and more to do with making money, if they were that bothered about other road users they would be fixing the potholes which regularly brings cyclists and motorcyclists off their bikes and causing accidents with motor vehicles, illegally parked cars on junctions and pavements causing collisions and dangers for pedestrians.

"The authorities are not interested in protecting other road users just making money, read the article again, if they were interested in yours or my safety they would fix all the other problems on the roads which they choose to ignore."

AJGreen replies: "Maybe the cyclists and motorcyclists should pay more attention to the road surface and drive accordingly."

MrNobody666 says: "If you’re not breaking any laws then you won’t get fined, not rocket science."

Professoraccountdeleted agrees: "Be a good driver and don't break the law, sorted!"

So do you agree with the use of AI traffic cameras? Will they improve road safety? Let us know in the comments below or HERE.