Police catch hundreds not wearing seatbelts with AI cameras

An AI camera system has caught 590 people not wearing seatbelts in Devon and Cornwall since the end of September, according to police.

Forty people were also caught using mobile phones behind the wheel.

The Aecom cameras have been deployed in various locations as part of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, which aims to stop all fatal and serious collisions in the two counties by 2040.

Chief Inspector Ben Asprey of the Alliance Roads Policing Team said: "You are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash if you are not wearing a seatbelt.

"Similarly, we know that travelling too fast gives you less time to react and increases the risk of serious injury for those involved in a collision, especially vulnerable road users.

"Last year, 47 people were killed and 647 were seriously injured on our roads. Every single one of these is a tragedy that we want to avoid.

"These are not just numbers, these are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, children, best friends and loved ones.

"Please drive within the speed limits, put your phone out of sight so you won't be tempted to use it, or set your phones mode to do not distract– and always wear a seatbelt."

In the last week, over 2,000 speeding offences were also detected.