AI CAMERAs – which can detect mobile phone use and not wearing a seatbelt – are being trialled on a busy route near Frome in a bid to cut dangerous driving.
The devices are being installed on the A361 Frome Bypass, a notorious accident blackspot which has seen six deaths in the past five years, as the police and Somerset Council work to cut the number of crashes.
According to Avon & Somerset Police and Somerset Council’s Road Safety Teams, around 15,000 vehicles use the bypass each day, with people caught by the cameras set to receive a warning letter through the post, alongside “educational materials” to help improve their behaviour behind the wheel.
The A361 Frome Bypass is a hotspot for crashes and in the autumn, Somerset Council’s Highways Team did some urgent work on one junction – including refurbishment of lining, an upgrade of junction warning signs, introduction of stop signs instead of give way and an extension of the double white line systems.
In the longer term, a review has been commissioned into how safety can be improved.
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The council’s lead member for transport and waste, Councillor Richard Wilkins, said: “This is an important part of a package of measures, some of which have already been implemented. The number of serious and fatal collisions on this stretch of road is alarming and we know the community is looking to ourselves and police to try to find ways to address this and ensure this is drastically reduced. Too many families have gone through the heartache of losing loved ones.
“We don’t know all the full circumstances surrounding all these incidents and it would be wrong to speculate, but we do know from working with our police partners and communities generally that drivers continue to take unnecessary risks, whether that’s driving while using a phone or being generally distracted and making dangers decisions.
“In the long term we are continuing to look at potential wider measures on the road and will work with the police to build an understanding of what is required.”
The cameras set to be installed can detect speeding, but are not set to issue fines, as they are not yet Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) certified for enforcement.
Instead, they will capture data of suspected dangerous driving, which is then inspected by police staff.
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Chief Inspection Rob Cheeseman, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Last year, 52 people were killed in 47 fatal road incidents in Avon and Somerset, with many more seriously injured.
“These tragedies not only devastate families but also place immense strain on emergency services and the officers who respond to them.
“By combining cutting-edge detection systems with proactive community engagement, AI cameras represent a significant step forward in road safety technology, helping to identify and deter dangerous driving behaviours before they lead to loss of life.”
surely a speed limit on this road especially at Leighton Chovel Lane would help and better signage at turnings