Distracted Driving

Cheap Traffic Attorneys discusses whether or not AI-powered cameras can be used to reduce distracted driving.

Could AI-Powered Cameras Help Reduce Distracted Driving?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2017 alone, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,166 people. Distracted driving includes any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the act of driving. This includes anything from eating and drinking to looking at navigation, to putting on makeup or texting. 

Think it’s harmless? Think again. Sending or reading a text message takes approximately five seconds, which at 55 mph equates to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. According to Acusensus, an Australian AI company, AI-powered cameras may just be the solution. 

Snapping a Picture with AI-powered cameras

Acusensus believes it has the answer to help reduce – if not eliminate – distracted driving. At the 2019 International Conference on Urban Traffic Safety in Edmonton, Canada, Acusensus, pitched the idea to implement their plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to locate distracted drivers in Canada, North America, and more countries. 

Acusensus would use AI-powered cameras, installed similar to photo radar, on the side of or above the road to take high-resolution pictures of each and every vehicle that passes by. Through AI the system is then able to look at these pictures in order to determine which drivers are on their phones in some capacity. 

Looking to Improve Safety

According to the company’s founder, Alexander Jannink, the company’s main purpose is to initiate measures that will reduce the number of traffic injuries and fatalities that are caused by distracted driving practices.  “We really encourage the community to be behind these kinds of initiatives so that you can have more confidence that you can get home safely,” he said. 

Unfortunate, this is no minor problem. In fact, according to CBC News reports, in 2016 distracted driving contributed to 21 percent of all fatal collisions across Canada. According to the same report, most of these distracted driving offenses involved a cell phone or other electronic device. 

AI-Powered Cameras and The Right to Privacy

One of the biggest concerns facing this new technology is how it will impact one’s legal right to privacy. But according to Acusensus, when the AI does not detect a distracted driver it immediately deletes the photo. Alternately, if it does identify a distracted driver, it immediately encrypts the image before sending it to the authorities, which would then ticket the driver. Yet the debate as to whether this practice should be allowed still remains. 

The CheapTrafficAttorneys Help Those in California Who Have Been Ticketed for Distracted Driving 

When arguing your case it is in your best interest to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced California traffic ticket attorney who has helped other clients who have allegedly used their cell phone or texted while driving. 

The Cheap Traffic Attorneys have your best interest at heart and will work hard in an effort to get your ticket dismissed. To learn more about how we can help or to schedule a consultation, visit us online or contact us today!