At the recent 2019 International Conference on Urban Traffic Safety, one participant offered a solution to our current distracted driving problems: cameras. Not just any cameras, mind you, but AI-powered cameras. This participant brought their technology here to the conference hoping to get their new technology implemented all across North America in order to cut down on our ever-increasing problem of driving while distracted by technology. It would be technology fighting technology, so to speak.
The Consequences of Distracted Driving
As Brampton personal injury lawyers, we see the consequences of motor vehicle accidents on a daily basis. In fact, our last published numbers in 2016 show that distracted driving was responsible for contributing to nearly 21 percent of all fatal collisions across Canada. Most of these cases involved an electronic device such as a cell phone.
New Technology Improving Safety
Australian company Acusensus says that its mission is to improve the safety of transportation by introducing technology that serves to identify not only poor driver behaviour but also identify dangerous road conditions. They do this by means of AI-powered cameras, similar to photo radar units, that sit on the side or above the road. This system can penetrate the windshield in order to take high-resolution photographs of every vehicle that passes by around the clock. The system’s algorithms offer automated recognition that detects drivers who are illegally touching an electronic device.
Right now, Acusensus is working with the New South Wales government in Australia as the first program to automatically enforce illegal cell phone usage by drivers in the world.
How These Are Different From Current Traffic Camera Systems
The difference between Acusensus’ AI-powered cameras and current traffic cameras that are being utilized now is their ability to go through the photographs in order to identify those drivers who are caught using their electronic devices and phones. Those who are identified as distracted drivers are sent on to authorities while those who are not are deleted. These solutions utilize high-resolution cameras and computing equipment which can collect information such as
● Identification of suspected cell phone use
● Analysis software that captures interaction with a phone
● Detection and the location of these drivers
The final stage of the process enables
● Facilitation of the inspection for evidence of use
● Verification of the images that will be used in fining offenders
Concerns Over Privacy
Acusensus’ founders are hoping that more communities get behind these kinds of initiatives to increase road safety for everyone. Not everyone is on board, however. Some are concerned about the lack of privacy. Acusensus claims that their technology immediately deletes a photo unless it identifies a distracted driver. In that case, it encrypts the image before it is forwarded to authorities. We see that this type of technology, while helpful on one hand can be debated for privacy concerns and probably will continue to do so for a while.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, we may be able to help. call the Brampton injury lawyers at MPC Law for a no-cost consultation to review your claim.
