An AI-powered surveillance camera set up by police has snared a driver who patted a dog while driving one-handed on a busy road.
The Devon and Cornwall Police Road Safety Team said the incident was captured by a camera set up on the A361 at Barnstaple.
Such cameras have been set up as trials to identify people using mobile phones while driving, or failing to wear a seatbelt, in a trend that campaigners described as “creepy”.
Domestic animal
“Despite not being specifically programmed for this, our very own ‘pet detective’ camera drew our attention to this driver, who was driving one-handed whilst cuddling their pet dog,” said police.
A spokesperson said the activity was “clearly not safe” and that the registered keeper had been sent notice of intent to prosecute for not being in proper control of a vehicle.
AI-enabled cameras are to be set up on roads in Scotland under the latest trial, Scotland’s transport agency said.
Transport Scotland is spending £350,000 on the programme, which is aimed at catching “distracted drivers” to make roads safer.
Scotland trial
Edinburgh-based AECOM is to provide software to “determine the scale and extent of specific driver behaviours”, with flagged images being sent to a team of analysts for review.
Big Brother Watch urged officials to keep humans in charge.
“This kind of surveillance is creepy and intrusive, and treats every driver it captures as a potential suspect,” said Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations at the campaign group.
“We should all be able to go about our lives without being analysed by faceless and unaccountable AI.”
