The number of drivers caught using mobile phones behind the wheel rises by a THIRD as the rollout of AI cameras increases

The number of drivers fined for using a mobile phone behind the wheel has increased for the third year in a row.

There was a 33 per cent increase in mobile phone fines imposed on drivers by 2023, while speeding fines in England and Wales have also risen to a record high, new data from the AA shows.

Fines for using a mobile phone while driving have risen from 27,776 in 2022 to 36,842 in 2023, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior.

In particular, the number of young drivers using a mobile phone while driving has risen to the highest level in eight years, according to the RAC – 21 years after using a phone behind the wheel was made a criminal offence.

This comes after new AI cameras were rolled out across the country this year to catch drivers breaking the law.

The state-of-the-art technology – which can be mounted on a trailer or vehicle and positioned higher than traditional speed or traffic cameras – is so effective that free-standing AI cameras caught 117 using their mobile phones while driving on the A30 in a 72 hour period in summer.

While using a mobile device while driving became illegal 21 years ago, the government only two years ago closed a loophole that previously meant drivers could escape punishment if they could prove they were not using the phone for ‘ interactive communication’.

In addition to the tightening of rules, the use of cameras and new technology, security organizations such as the AA are calling on the government to increase the number of traffic police.

Jack Cousens, AA’s head of road policy, said; ‘While cameras and new technology play an important role in road safety, these statistics clearly show that we need more police in cars to police the roads.

‘Yesterday the Prime Minister said he would hire 13,000 new officers, PCSOs and special constables.

‘At least 1,000 should become traffic police officers to help improve road safety and prevent bad driving before something tragic happens.’

Cases of careless driving have risen by 18 per cent, while the RAC revealed there were 23 fatalities on UK roads in 2023 where a driver using a mobile phone was deemed a contributing factor in the collision – an increase from of 18 in 2019.

Furthermore, according to the latest official figures, distraction and impairment are a factor in 34.9 percent of all fatal collisions.

It’s not just mobile phone use that is increasing: the number of speeding fines issued across England and Wales has reached 2.7 million – a record high according to The AA.

How many drivers use their phone illegally while behind the wheel?

The 2024 RAC Report on Driving shows that 55 per cent of drivers under the age of 25 admit to making and receiving calls while behind the wheel, compared to 27 per cent of the overall motoring population and just 16 per cent of drivers aged 65 or older.

This is six percentage points higher than in 2023 and three percentage points since 2016, when the data was first recorded.

When it comes to voice notes, young drivers are once again leading the way in the illegal use of mobile phones.

Two in five younger drivers also say they have listened to a voice message while driving without using hands-free, while 40 percent have recorded such a message. The corresponding figures for the total motorist population are only 14 percent and 9 percent respectively.

Across all age groups, 15 percent of all drivers have checked messages on their phones, and one in 10 say they have used their phones to write text messages, emails or social media posts while driving.

There has also been a notable increase in the number of drivers taking photos and/or videos, with almost 8 percent admitting to having done so in the past 12 months in 2024, up from 5 percent in both 2023 and 2022.

Illegal phone use while driving is more common among younger drivers

Non-compliance with the law is again significantly higher among younger drivers, with 39 percent of those under 25 having manually checked messages while driving.

Nearly a third have taken a photo or recorded a video, a sharp increase from 19 percent in 2023.

And 40 percent of young people under the age of 25 have made or received a video call while driving, compared to 30 percent in 2023 and 17 percent in 2022.

The rollout of AI cameras to catch people using their phones while driving

The RAC found that 22 percent of drivers say mobile phone use behind the wheel is their biggest concern, while 77 percent of all drivers say they would like to see the widespread introduction of cameras designed to detect illegal phone use behind the wheel. detect handlebars.

Drivers will therefore be happy to know that the rollout of AI cameras for this specific purpose has largely increased this year.

In September, This is Money reported that Greater Manchester is the latest area to see new AI cameras being introduced on roads, as part of a study to find out how many drivers are breaking the law and to help future road safety campaigns involving mobile phones and seat belts .

The cameras capture passing vehicles (they can track objects traveling at up to 300 km per hour) and the photos are then processed by AI to detect if someone is using their smartphone while driving or if someone in the car is not wearing a seat belt .

The cameras can not only catch drivers on mobile phones, but also detect people not wearing seat belts – both ‘key factors’ in accidents.

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said the ‘increasing number’ of young drivers using their phones while driving was ‘extremely worrying’: ‘We suspect a key reason for this is that drivers do not believe they are likely to be caught.

‘But hopefully the increasing use of AI cameras that allow police to detect drivers breaking the law will send the message that offenders will be caught and punished with six penalty points and a £200 fine. For young drivers who have been driving in the past two years have obtained their driver’s license, this means that they will lose their driver’s license.’

Which regions have AI cameras?

National highways and police forces across England have extended an ongoing trial that started in 2021 and now runs until March 2025.

The ten police forces taking part in the rollout are Greater Manchester, Durham, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police and Sussex.

The trial is intended to help police understand how AI technology could work on national highways and how it could be rolled out nationally.

In the future, AI cameras would be attached to gantries on highways in the pilot regions.

How effective are AI cameras?

Free-standing AI cameras on the A30 near Launceston in Devon had caught 117 people using their mobile phones while driving over a 72-hour period in July.

Another 130 people were caught for not wearing their seat belts.

In July 2023, Hampshire and Thames Valley Police discovered almost 500 offenses in a week after using a van fitted with AI cameras.

The Acusensus ‘Heads Up’ vehicle, which was placed on the A34 and A303 as part of a campaign by National Police Chiefs, caught motorists using their phones, not wearing seat belts and driving under the influence of drugs.

A total of 86 drivers were suspected of using a telephone. About 273 motorists or passengers were suspected of not wearing a seat belt and a further 132 mechanical violations were identified.

Five arrests were made after checks by an employee.