In recent years, the number of drivers caught speeding has surged dramatically, thanks to the increasing use of AI-powered speed cameras. These advanced cameras have been instrumental in identifying and penalizing thousands of motorists, leading to a significant rise in speeding fines.
According to a Freedom of Information request from comparison website Confused.com, speeding fines have increased by 14% since 2022, with a total of 9 million drivers caught speeding since then. The data revealed that more than 3.3 million Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIP) were issued to drivers in 2024, up from 2.9 million in 2022. This marks the highest recorded number of drivers caught speeding in the past three years.
A key factor behind this surge is the rollout of new AI cameras. According to This Is Money, these cameras have caught 2,341 drivers since they were piloted on UK roads in 2021. The AI cameras are not only capable of detecting speeding motorists but can also identify drivers who are illegally using a smartphone behind the wheel or not wearing a seatbelt. They can determine the make and model of a car and take full images inside the vehicle.
The police constabulary with the highest number of offences caught by AI cameras is Durham, with 951 offences recorded, followed by Humberside with 882 offences, and Staffordshire with 455 offences. North Wales has also caught 53 drivers using AI cameras, says This Is Money. Several police forces, including Avon & Somerset and Devon & Cornwall, are planning to roll out AI cameras soon.
Despite the increase in fines, many drivers support the use of AI cameras to catch speeding motorists. According to GB News, a third of drivers believe that the use of AI will make roads safer. However, a similar number of drivers, 36%, hope that a person is checking over what the new AI camera records, as they are concerned it might catch drivers incorrectly. On the other hand, one in five drivers think that the use of AI cameras is an invasion of privacy in the car.
The deterrent factor of AI cameras seems to be shifting driver behavior. According to This Is Money, one in ten drivers is now less likely to use a mobile phone while driving because they feel they are more likely to be caught by an AI speed camera than other cameras. A further 11% of drivers say the same about not wearing a seatbelt. Seventeen percent of drivers believe there should be more cameras on UK roads.
Rhydian Jones, a car insurance expert at Confused.com, stated, “The piloting of AI speed cameras is a step in the right direction to improve road safety. The technology can spot drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt or using their phone behind the wheel. The hope is that this will really help to crack down on drivers who risk the safety of themselves and other road users when behind the wheel”.
However, even the use of AI cameras is not proving enough to stop the issue of speeding on UK roads. Confused.com’s research found that 38% of drivers have received a NIP for speeding, with a third doing so twice. More than half of the drivers said that since being caught speeding, they are more careful about meeting speed limits. Despite the cost of a ticket, which is a minimum of £100, or the fact that car insurance increases by an average of £139 after receiving a speeding fine, the problem persists.
All in all, the introduction of AI cameras has led to a significant increase in speeding fines and has had a notable impact on driver behavior. While many drivers support the use of AI cameras for improving road safety, concerns about privacy and accuracy remain. As more police forces adopt this technology, it will be interesting to see how it continues to shape the landscape of road safety in the UK.
