A new camera powered by artificial intelligence has been rolled out at an accident hotspot in the South West of England, as experts hope it will deter dangerous drivers.
The first-of-its-kind camera has been installed to capture vehicles performing dangerous U-turn manoeuvres on the Hayle Bypass section of the A30.
National Highways installed the camera, which uses AI technology, in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council.
The transport organisation introduced a ban on U-turns on the Hayle Bypass in 2021 after complaints from locals and a series of accidents.
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There have been 10 collisions since 2014 that are a direct result of a U-turn on the stretch of road around seven miles northeast of Penzance.
Over the last 12 years, this has contributed to one death, six serious injuries and 13 people being left with minor injuries.
Signage was installed by National Highways discouraging U-turns, although some drivers have ignored this guidance and continue to act dangerously.
Reports of near misses have been identified by the police, while some drivers have been prosecuted through Devon and Cornwall Police’s Op Snap campaign.
This allows the public to submit dashcam and other video evidence to the police of any road traffic offences they have seen in the region.
Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “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.
“Despite the U-turn ban and prominent signage, a small minority of road users continue to make dangerous decisions on this route, which is why these cameras have become necessary.”
Mr Leisk reiterated the safety information, telling drivers not to risk any dangerous actions, as the police “will not hesitate to take action against anyone caught making an illegal U-turn”.
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Additional work is being completed by Vision Zero South West after Cornwall Council adopted its new Road Safety Strategy earlier this year.
It outlined a goal of eliminating all deaths on Cornish roads by 2050, with the council praising actions being taken at accident blackspots, like the Hayle Bypass.
Councillor Dan Rogerson noted that all road accidents in the region have a personal, social and economic cost for the wider community.
Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transport confirmed that the local authority would continue to utilise new technology to address road safety issues.
Oliver Dash, senior road safety engineer at National Highways, said the AI camera was primarily being used to “monitor traffic movements and manoeuvres”.
Data from the camera will be available to the organisation’s Vision Zero South West partners in the hope of cracking down on illegal U-turns on the stretch of road.
“We understand waiting in queues during periods of congestion can be frustrating, but carrying out U-turns on a road such as the Hayle bypass is incredibly dangerous,” Mr Dash said.
Vision Zero South West’s partners include councils in Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter, as well as the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Driving for Better Business.
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