New AI cameras detect phone use on France-Spain motorway
The pilot project caught thousands of motorists using their phones while driving
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Motorists travelling to or from Spain may come across new artificial intelligence cameras being tested on routes linking France with Spain, with the ability to detect drivers using their mobile phones or not wearing their seat belts.
The technology was trialled by the Catalan traffic authority, Servei Català de Trànsit (SCT) on the A-2 and AP-7 motorways in Catalonia, including the AP-7 route used by many motorists travelling between the French border and Barcelona.
These new cameras are designed to monitor driver behaviour instead of speed. Installed in a mobile trailer unit, they use high-definition cameras combined with artificial intelligence to analyse traffic and identify safety violations.
Thousands of drivers detected during trial
The pilot project carried out in June and July this year detected more than 8,500 cases of drivers using a mobile phone while driving and more than 4,500 cases involving seat-belt violations (both drivers or passengers not wearing it).
The system was able to identify different types of mobile phone use, including drivers holding a phone in their hand and those using a device positioned on their lap, which is considered particularly risky behaviour as it leads to longer periods when the driver is distracted.
According to the Catalan traffic authority, the technology achieved an accuracy rate of more than 84% for automatically detecting mobile phone use.
No fines issued
Despite the thousands of drivers caught by these cameras, no fines were issued. The purpose of the operation was to test the technology, see how reliable it was and understand where risky behaviour occurs.
The Catalan traffic authority said that this system is meant to complement existing controls.
Possible adoption from 2027
The Catalan traffic authority said it plans to consider incorporating this type of mobile AI monitoring technology into its future Road Safety Plan 2027-2030.
This AI camera trial is part of a wider move by Spain to use technology to improve road safety.
Other recent measures include “dragon teeth” road markings, which use an optical illusion to encourage drivers to slow down in sensitive areas, and new 3D LiDAR speed cameras using artificial intelligence to detect vehicles and speeding from more than 200 metres away.
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