COPS are cracking down on drivers using mobile phones and driving without a seatbelt with a new “weapon.”
A van with a camera mounted 21ft above the motorway is the latest artificial intelligence officers are using to put a stop to lawbreakers.
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The new solution – secret vans with cameras mounted 21 feet over motorways – aims to identify drivers breaking the law.
The mobile phone and seat belt unit uses artificial intelligence and sends images to an officer to be checked.
Those breaking the law will then be prosecuted.
The unmarked mobile traps have already been deployed in Warwickshire, Merseyside, East and West Sussex.
Safer Roads Humber is now working with National Highways in trialling the van, which has been deployed across the Humber region this week, the MailOnline reported.
A National Highways spokesman said there is currently no commitment to deploy this further than East Yorkshire, but will work will police to review data in a bid to make the road network safer.
It comes after drivers were warned about new “invisible” speed cameras tracking those breaking speed limits.
Cameras hidden inside vans painted grey so they’re hard to spot are being trialled before a planned nationwide rollout.
It is not a legal requirement for the police or local authorities to warn motorists about any cameras up ahead.
Police say unmarked speed camera vans encourage consistently safe driving rather than the yo-yo effect when drivers slow down for cameras.
The camouflaged vans are re-wrapped existing speed vans which have been covered in a matte grey coating – rather than the typical bright orange and yellow markings seen on UK roads.
Ian Robertson, Safer Roads Humber partnership manager, commented on the new safety enforcement vans.
He said: “It is important that motorists always obey all traffic law, this is for their safety and the safety of other road users.
“The number of people killed or injured in road collisions across the region has plateaued over the last few years and this is in part due to driver complacency.
“We can’t pick and choose which road traffic laws we obey; all laws should be adhered to, at all times.’
He added: “This new van increases our enforcement capability; our current safety camera vans can already detect mobile phone users and seat belt offences, but this specialist equipment gives us added capacity.”
Jamie Hassall, National Highways’ road safety team leader, explained the technology has already been deployed on roads elsewhere in the country where it has highlighted the minority of dangerous drivers who continue to put themselves and others at risk.
He explained they want to try change driver behaviour and improve road safety for everyone.
Jamie added: “So, as we embark on this latest trial of the system, our advice is clear: buckle up and give the road your full attention.”
It comes after a fuming resident revealed how he got his revenge on boy racers speeding through his neighbourhood after the council failed to stop them.
Paul Hooper, 57, from Swansea, said that reckless drivers thundered down his road so quickly that the police couldn’t catch them – until he splashed out on a £3,000 speed camera.
You can also check if you’ve really been caught by a speed camera – and if you’ll recieve a fine.
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