More police forces join safety camera trial

A National Highways trial of new mobile technology to detect when drivers are using mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt is being rolled out across the country.

Ten police forces will use the new equipment, which is mounted to a vehicle or trailer with multiple cameras giving differing views of the driver and their passengers.

The trial first launched in 2021 when those caught driving without seatbelts or on the phone by police were sent warning letters informing them of the dangers of their behaviour.

National Highways said that research shows that you are four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone while driving and twice as likely to die in a crash if you don’t wear a seatbelt.

In partnership with AECOM, the research is now being extended to work with more police forces to help learn more about how the technology could work on the strategic road network and inform a possible future roll-out nationwide.

The latest trial began on 19 February and will run until March 2025.

National Highways said there are plans for the technology to be fixed to gantries for the first time giving an unobscured view of all lanes.