In a move that could signal the future of traffic enforcement in the UK, Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police have begun deploying state-of-the-art AI-powered cameras.

The use of the new tech on the A361 Frome Bypass, a notorious collision hotspot, has proved a great example of the potential provided by the cameras.

More than 4,500 offences were recorded between March and July 2025, including 4,407 incidents of no seat belt being worn, 74 speeding offences at over 80 mph, and 119 instances of mobile phone use.

Tech-tastic?

The installation, part of a pilot launched in 2025, comes after six fatalities on the stretch over the last five years, including four between 2023 and 2024.

It is just part of an ongoing package of measures to improve safety across the county.

Around 15,000 vehicles a day use the section of the A361, a high volume that amplifies the risk posed by reckless or distracted driving.

Between March and July 2025, the AI system logged more than 4,500 driving offences on the bypass.

These included 4,407 instances of drivers failing to wear a seatbelt, 119 cases of mobile phone use behind the wheel, and 74 speeding offences — some recorded at over 80 mph in a 60 mph zone. 

The scale of the data has already triggered calls for further action.

Local politicians, such as MP Anna Sabine, have expressed relief that the pilot may lead to permanent safety upgrades, including potential reductions in speed limits, enhanced road markings, and other structural improvements. 

They can see you

Modern AI road-safety cameras don’t just act as automated speed traps.

According to the charity RAC, the technology can also detect passengers using mobile phones, failure to wear seatbelts, and other dangerous driving behaviours by analysing video footage and linking it to vehicle registration and police databases.

When violations are detected, images are reviewed by human officers to ensure accuracy, the type of offence, and possible penalties for the driver.

For now, at the A361, the policy is to issue warning letters and educational materials rather than immediate prosecution.

Officials say that full enforcement may follow once the systems and procedures are refined.

Supporters argue that AI cameras provide a cost-effective way to deter behaviours that often lead to serious and fatal crashes — particularly those involving seatbelt non-compliance, distraction, and risky speed.

AI speed cameras have already been piloted in various UK regions since 2021 with encouraging results. 

Moving forward

Experts say Somerset’s trial could pave the way for a nationwide shift in how authorities monitor and enforce safe driving.

AI cameras are far more scalable than traditional police enforcement, operating 24/7 without human presence, covering multiple offences simultaneously, and analysing large volumes of traffic data in real time.

The ‘intekligent’ aspect of the technology makes them very different from the traditional roadside cameras.

According to a recent academic study on computer vision and edge computing for traffic safety, such systems can track vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, predict potential collisions, and provide early warnings, and are a promising example of how AI might fit into future “smart city” road safety schemes.

For long-term impact, however, experts stress that AI enforcement must be part of a comprehensive approach.

That means combining technology with road engineering, improved signage, behavioural campaigns, and regular traffic-calming measures.

In Somerset’s case, authorities already plan a safety engineering scheme, potentially including a lower speed limit, more precise road markings, and junction redesigns, alongside the camera deployment. 

Cautious optimism

While many welcome the cameras as a “significant step forward” for road safety, some motorists and civil-liberty groups remain cautious.

They complain that the AI camera systems are taking us into the sphere of George Orwell’s ‘1984’, where our movements and actions are continuously monitored, reducing our freedoms and increasing paranoia.

Concerns include privacy, accuracy, and the risk of false positives.

The charity RAC has argued that proper safeguards must be in place, including a reliable appeals process, before fines are issued. 

For now, though, the early results from Somerset suggest AI road-safety cameras may soon become a fixture on British roads, a tool that brings together modern technology, behaviour change, and enforcement to help reduce collisions and save lives.