Cameras which detect unsafe and distracted driving behaviour will now cover the M5 Motorway for the first time after the initiative was expanded by road safety groups.

The Acusensus camera systems have been used at various locations around the two counties over the past four years as part of ongoing trials supported by Devon & Cornwall Police and the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership.

The cameras – which take both overhead and front-facing images – use both AI and human reviewers to detect mobile phone and seatbelt offences.

Since being deployed in the region, the cameras have monitored 6.5 million vehicles and detected more than 8,500 offences (over 5,400 seatbelt offences and 3,100 mobile phone offences).

Camera data also indicates they are having a significant impact on road user behaviour. On average, camera sites see a 50% reduction in offences during a month – and 80% long term reduction when sites are revisited by the cameras.

As a result of this positive impact, National Highways has agreed to expand this initiative to support further use on the region’s strategic road network until the end of April 2027 – including the A38, A30 and, for the first time, the M5 motorway.

Adrian Leisk, Devon & Cornwall Police’s Head of Road Safety, said: “It’s important to say that the vast majority of motorists are complying with the rules – in fact, less than 1% of the vehicles we monitored using the Acusensus cameras were detected as committing offences.

“Using a mobile phone behind the wheel significantly increases your chances of being involved in a serious collision – particularly on high-speed roads where traffic might suddenly slow – and motorists not wearing seatbelts are twice more likely to die than those who wear one. These dangers cannot be understated.

“While the figures demonstrate that the vast majority of motorists are complying with the rules, sadly a small minority continue to ignore the law and put other lives in danger.

“The Vision Zero South West partnership remains committed in the use of technology to help address behavioural issues that lead to road traffic collisions. This is about keeping all road users in Devon and Cornwall safe and it’s great to see these cameras having a positive impact in our region.”

Jack Mason, South West Road Safety Manager for National Highways, said: “Road safety is a shared responsibility – motorists play an active role through the way they drive.

“Working as part of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads.”

Geoff Collins, UK General Manager of Acusensus, added: “Our experience in Devon and Cornwall clearly demonstrates that the long-term use of this camera technology does change behaviours, for the better. 

“Far fewer drivers are distracted by their phones and more occupants are correctly belted – meaning the roads are safer for everyone.”

Over the last four years, Devon and Cornwall has seen an encouraging reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured (known as KSI figures) on its roads.

KSIs in the region have fallen year-on-year for the last four years, with last year’s figures reaching an historic low.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is also chair of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership.

Commissioner Hernandez said: “While these figures are certainly going in the right direction, there is a lot more work to be done. These aren’t just numbers, these are lives turned upside down by unimaginable tragedy and trauma.

“Every member of the Vision Zero South West partnership has committed to halving the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads by 2030 – and eventually, to zero.

“The level of collaboration between agencies within Vision Zero South West has been key to our progress. It’s enabled us to work with new partners and test groundbreaking equipment – along with new educational opportunities – which are improving driver behaviour and preventing people from being killed or seriously injured.

“We need everyone to be at their very best when using our roads. No one wants to answer the door to a police officer bringing them tragic news about a family member or loved one.”