AI spots nearly 19,000 'shocking' road offences

An artificial intelligence trial identified almost 19,000 potential driving offences in Birmingham and Wolverhampton in just two weeks.

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker called the findings "shocking" saying the number of drivers putting themselves and others at risk was "far higher than we expected".

The trial used AI-powered cameras outside Ladywood and Fallings Park fire stations in March to identify potential seatbelt and mobile phone offences.

The images they captured included a front-seat passenger holding a small child on their lap without a seatbelt and a driver holding a mobile phone with both hands.

Dozens of images showed children travelling without age-appropriate restraints.

At Ladywood, the technology identified 11,045 potential seatbelt offences and 1,163 potential mobile phone offences. At Fallings Park, it recorded 6,030 potential seatbelt offences and 757 potential mobile phone offences.

Parker said: "The number of people risking their own lives and the lives of others, including some very young children, is frankly shocking and far higher than we expected.

"I've met families who have lost loved ones to reckless driving," he added. "They never recover from those tragedies."

He said he would use "every resource available" to make roads safer as the findings were reviewed.