AI cameras are catching out thousands of UK drivers amid surge in speeding prosecutions

Confused.com car insurance expert Rhydian Jones said: "The hope is that this will really help to crack down on drivers who risk the safety of themselves and other road users"

Speeding offences have surged by 14% in three years, with cameras operated using artificial intelligence catching thousands of drivers.

New figures reveal more than 3.3million speeding offences were committed by UK drivers last year alone, including 815,345 recorded by the Metropolitan Police, 262,455 by officers in West Yorkshire and 221,209 by Devon & Cornwall Police. The figure is up from 3.1million caught in 2023 and 2.9million in 2022.

Five forces - The Met, Durham, Humberside, North Wales and Staffordshire - confirmed they are using A.I.-powered cameras, as well as traditional ones. The Met did not provide figures, but the other four revealed their A.I.-powered cameras have caught 2,341 drivers combined since they were first installed.

Two more forces, Avon & Somerset and Devon & Cornwall, responded saying they do not have any AI-powered cameras, but they are also planning to use them soon. The overall number caught by A.I.-powered cameras nationwide is understood to be even higher, with ten police forces reportedly trialling A.I. cameras in recent months.

Earlier this year, it was found they were responsible for catching hundreds of drivers breaking the rules of the road in just a fortnight over two separate week-long trial periods in March and June last year. Another report said more than 2,300 drivers were caught out by the new start cameras in their first year of operation in Stoke-on-Trent alone.

The devices, which use a multi-camera setup to capture different views of the driver and passengers, are designed to analyse live video feeds in real-time and can detect a number of offences, including speeding, mobile phone use and seatbelt violations. They are increasingly replacing the older traditional yellow box models.

The new stats emerged following a series of Freedom of Information requests by car insurance firm Confused.com to UK police forces. They also surveyed 2,000 UK drivers about their views on AI-powered cameras and speeding.

A third (33%) said they believe the use of A.I. will make roads safer. A similar amount (36%) also expressed their hope a person is checking over what the new A.I. camera records due to fears it might catch drivers incorrectly.

One in five (17%) consider the use of A.I. cameras an invasion of their privacy in their car. However, one in 10 (14%) admitted they are less likely to use a mobile phone while driving now because of the A.I. speed cameras and a further 11% said the same about not wearing a seatbelt.

Nearly two in five (38%) drivers have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution for speeding, with a third (32%) doing so twice. And more than half (52%) said that since being caught for speeding, they’re more careful about meeting speed limits.

Meanwhile, the survey found 76% of drivers don’t know fines can be based on income. Confused.com, who have created an online speeding fine calculator to help drivers, also polled drivers on what would make them slow down behind the wheel.

One in three (34%) said they’re more likely to reduce their speed if they see a policeman while driving and 17% told how they would be in favour of more cameras on our roads.

Confused.com car insurance expert Rhydian Jones said: “The number of speeding fines in 2024 is 14% higher than those caught in 2022.

“But speeding isn’t the only issue, as distractions like mobile phones cause dangerous driving too. That’s why the piloting of AI speed cameras is a step in the right direction to improve road safety.”

He added: “The technology can spot drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt or using their phone behind the wheel. The hope is that this will really help to crack down on drivers who risk the safety of themselves and other road users.”