Road safety tech wins UK award

An Australian smart technology developer has been internationally awarded for a program to catch distracted and dangerous UK drivers.

Acusensus’s three-month trial using its AI-enabled software and hardware to catch drivers using their mobile phone and not wearing seatbelts was recognised by Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) UK, the pre-eminent UK body advocating the use of technology for safer transport, winning the Enforcement Scheme Award.

The trial involved collaboration between the UK Government’s National Highways, Warwickshire Police, AECOM and Acusensus to monitor driver behaviour. Acusensus already operates camera detection programs in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, as well as in several international jurisdictions.

The mobile roadside sensor van is equipped with multiple cameras to individually capture every passing vehicle, even at speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 m/h).

The mobile van captured 37 mobile phone offences and 128 seatbelt offences in the first 18 hours of operation, and in one 64-hour period caught 152 drivers using their mobile phone and 512 occupants without a seatbelt — equivalent to one offence every six minutes. Further analysis showed men were the biggest offenders (94%), and those aged between 30 and 49 years old were responsible for 80% of offences.

The latest findings follow a six-month pilot in 2021, with Acusensus’s fixed camera system on a single lane of the M4 capturing more than 25,000 instances of mobile phone use and almost 7000 seat belt offences.

The mobile van trial is an important tool for authorities to address two of the “fatal four” killers on UK roads. UK government figures show in 2019 there were 420 collisions on British roads involving a driver using a mobile phone, while Department of Transport data shows road fatalities caused by not wearing a seatbelt jumped from 23% in 2020 to 30% in 2021, the highest death rate since 2013.

Acusensus founder and managing director Alexander Jannink said the award was recognition of the company’s mission to help reach zero road deaths globally.

“We are extremely honoured to be recognised by the leading ITS association in the UK for our innovative mobile phone and seatbelt enforcement technology,” Jannink said.

“We are proud to work with National Highways, AECOM and Warwickshire Police on this project, which will no doubt change driver behaviour and make a huge impact on two of the biggest killers on UK roads.

“The mobile enforcement van uses game-changing technology that enables authorities to better understand the scale of mobile phone and non-seatbelt compliance, and to warn drivers and encourage behaviour change.

“Technology such as this could be integral to the UK achieving its Vision Zero targets. We have already seen a significant fall in road fatalities since the implementation of similar enforcement programs in New South Wales and Queensland, and more recently WA.”

Dr Jamie Uff, Technical Director at AECOM, which is managing this research project for National Highways, said the numbers of people killed or seriously injured due to distracted driving and failing to wear a seatbelt remained high, despite repeated warnings.

“The technology AECOM is deploying makes detection straightforward and is providing valuable insight to the police and policymakers on the current level of road user behaviour. We are really keen to use this equipment to raise awareness and help improve road safety for all,” Uff said.

The trial has resulted in more than 216 prosecution notices.

Warwickshire Police Inspector Jem Mountford described the technology as a “fantastic tool to support officers in changing driver behaviour and enforcing the legislation for those reluctant to comply”.

Image: Supplied