New AI roadside camera that catches drivers performing dangerous U-turns unveiled

A roadside camera using artificial intelligence technology to detect dangerous U-turns has been deployed in Britain for the first time.

The device, dubbed a ‘first-of-its-kind’ system, has been installed on the Hayle Bypass section of the A30 in Cornwall – a notorious crash hotspot where ten serious accidents have occurred in the last decade, including one fatal collision.

A U-turn ban has been in place on the stretch of road since 2021 following a series of serious collisions and near misses caused by drivers attempting to turn around in queues at the congestion pinch point.

With a 60mph speed limit in force, U-turns are particularly risky, and prominent signs have been installed warning motorists not to attempt the dangerous manoeuvres.

However, National Highways, which erected the new camera in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police alongside Cornwall Council, says the signs are being ignored.

The camera’s installation is the latest example of AI being rolled out to catch drivers breaking the law.

Advances in camera technology mean single devices are now capable of detecting a variety of offences, including speeding, running red lights, failure to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

While locals have largely supported the use of the system, it again raised concerns that motorists are increasingly having their privacy invaded by Big Brother-style technology.

Adrian Leisk, head of road safety at Devon and Cornwall Police, said the use of the camera had ‘become necessary’ due to the number of drivers ignoring the U-turn ban.

In a recent incident posted on social media, a coach was seen carrying out a U-turn on the stretch, crossing solid white lines on the 60mph road.

‘While a U-turn may seem like an innocent manoeuvre, the collision history on this particular stretch of road shows just how dangerous they can be,’ Leisk said.

But National Highways suggests the camera can enforce more than just illegal U-turns. 

Its senior road safety engineer, Oliver Dash, said it would be used ‘primarily to monitor traffic movements and manoeuvres’, hinting that it could also detect other types of offences.

How the camera works

While Devon and Cornwall Police has yet to confirm the model of camera being used, the Daily Mail and This is Money understands that it is a Hazen.ai VistaPro system.

Hazen.ai is headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

Like the system deployed on the A30, its cameras are typically mounted high on poles to provide an elevated view of the road. 

However, they can also be attached to existing street furniture, including lampposts.

The VistaPro is described as a ‘comprehensive all-in-one enforcement system’ capable of detecting a wide range of traffic offences.

Its AI-powered technology can identify speeding motorists, drivers running red lights, and offenders breaking seatbelt and mobile phone laws.

However, it can also detect a range of lane violations, including illegal U-turns.

The system creates a ‘3D digital twin’ of the road, allowing it to identify prohibited manoeuvres.

By recognising the double white lines in the centre of the A30, the camera can detect any vehicle that crosses them.

The same technology can also identify motorists driving the wrong way in a lane or on a one-way street, as well as banned and illegal turns at junctions.

It can detect drivers crossing chevrons on motorways or restricted road markings and can even identify poor driving behaviour, such as queue-jumping.

The system can also be used to enforce restrictions in car parks, bus lanes and other controlled zones.

All footage is captured through photographs and video recordings before being stored in a database. Potential offences are then reviewed by a human operator before any fines or penalty points are issued.

The camera can quickly identify offenders thanks to its built-in automatic number plate recognition – or ANPR – technology.

This allows registration plates to be cross-referenced against law enforcement databases, flagging untaxed and uninsured vehicles, as well as those without a valid MOT certificate.

The camera system is mounted on a trailer, allowing it to be deployed as a mobile unit and repositioned to different locations when required.

And because the system consumes just 34 watts of power, it can run from the solar panels attached to the trailer rather than drawing electricity from the grid.

Devon and Cornwall Police is already trialling a separate camera system produced by German company Vector called the ‘Distracted Driving System’.

It is being used in Plymouth to identify motorists using mobile phones and drivers or passengers not wearing seatbelts.

This is Money has contacted Devon and Cornwall Police to ask what potential fines the camera can dish out and whether it can result in points on a licence.