Risky road to receive £1m for cameras and AI

Published at: January 9, 2025 12:44 PM

Updated at: January 10, 2025 7:41 AM

A dangerous stretch of road in Devon will receive £1 million in funding to install artificial intelligence (AI) and speed cameras, aiming to reduce traffic offenses and prevent further accidents. The A361, which runs between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, has been classified as a "high-risk" area by the Department for Transport (DfT), with three fatalities and 30 serious injuries reported between 2018 and 2022.

AI cameras can detect violations such as drivers not wearing seatbelts or being distracted by mobile phones, according to supporters of the project. Devon County Council's cabinet has approved the use of £1 million from a £5 million DfT grant to implement this technology.

In a trial last August, AI cameras captured nearly 1,800 potential violations of seatbelt use and mobile phone distractions among drivers traveling from Braunton to Barnstaple. As part of the new plans, three speed cameras will be installed at Knowle, Ilfracombe, and Ashford. Additionally, two average speed camera systems will be set up between Ashford and Chivenor, and between Knowle and Mullacott Cross.

The AI cameras will be moved to different locations along the A361 to cover more areas. Stuart Hughes, the county council's cabinet member for highways, expressed pride in Devon's role at the forefront of using AI to enhance road safety. There are also plans to allocate the remaining £4 million of the DfT grant to improve junctions and provide better access to the A361 for pedestrians and cyclists.