A new trial of camera-based technology is detecting motorists holding mobile phones or driving without seatbelts every six minutes.

In its first 64 hours, the vehicle detected 664 offences; one every six minutes

The UK-first tech has been deployed in a ‘sensor test vehicle’ trialled on England’s motorways and major A-roads as part of a research project carried out by National Highways alongside Warwickshire Police.

In its first 64 hours, the vehicle checked a total of 122,241 vehicles on the M40 and A46 and resulted in 152 mobile phone detections. It also identified 512 vehicle occupants without a seatbelt.

Of the 664 offences detected, it is estimated that 530 (79.81%) were committed by people between the ages of 30 and 49, while 627 (94.42%) of those caught out were male.

The test vehicle is equipped with multiple cameras which can record footage of passing motorists. Images captured by the cameras are processed using artificial intelligence to determine if motorists were using a handheld mobile phone and drivers and passengers were without a seat belt. The van will also be able to detect tailgating vehicles in the future and the technology is also being trialled by Devon and Cornwall Police.

National Highways road safety team leader Jamie Hassall said: “Safety remains our top priority and we want everyone to get to their destination safely. Sadly, the results of this trial have shown that some drivers do not feel the need to wear a seatbelt or become distracted by their phones.

“Using any phone while driving is dangerous – driving is a highly complex task requiring a person’s full attention, as any error can be catastrophic. Drivers who talk on phones, both hands-free and hand-held, are four times more likely to be in a crash resulting in injuries.

“We want to see if we can change driver behaviour and therefore improve road safety for everyone. Our advice is clear; buckle up and give the road your full attention.”

The RAC – which has been campaigning for such technology for a while now – welcomed the trial.

Road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: “We’re extremely pleased to see this technology finally being used, having called for it to be trialled for four years. The police can’t be everywhere all of the time so it makes sense that forces look at how technology can be used to help them catch drivers acting dangerously and illegally.

“These are shocking figures and, if they were applied to all roads across the country, suggest there remains a huge problem when it comes to drivers either not buckling up or using mobile phones illegally.

“Drivers are widely supportive of tougher enforcement of the law around handheld mobile phone use, with nearly half of these (47%) saying that camera technology like this is the best way of doing so.”