Traffic cameras driven by artificial intelligence: a threat to privacy or a means of improving road safety?
AI-powered traffic cameras are one of the most contentious applications of AI. As the name implies, these cameras analyze video footage of cars on the road to detect traffic offenses.
These cameras are frequently employed in law enforcement; police may use them to detect drivers who do not observe safety standards while driving or who conduct other infractions, such as misuse the bus lane. However, they may also be used to track and optimize traffic patterns. In all circumstances, these cameras raise issues about driver privacy.
How widely used are AI-powered traffic cameras today?
While AI-powered traffic cameras are still relatively new, they are now in widespread usage. Nearly half of UK police agencies have implemented the technology to monitor drivers' compliance with safety requirements, such as wearing seatbelts and not using their phones while driving. Law enforcement in the United States is following suit, with North Carolina finding nine times fewer phone-related infractions after installing cameras.
As more governments use this technology, it is projected to expand in the future as machine learning and artificial intelligence advance. Increased investment in smart cities might also help drive this growth. China aims to develop 500 smart cities, while India intends to test similar technology in at least 100 cities. As these programs progress, more drivers may come across AI-powered cameras throughout their regular journey.
Advantages of implementing artificial intelligence in traffic cameras:
AI-powered traffic cameras are expanding their role in offering numerous vital benefits to both governmental agencies and people, the most prominent of which are:
Improve safety:
The most important benefit of these cameras is increased traffic safety. Failure to follow safety standards while driving killed 3,308 individuals in 2022 alone, and many incidents are impossible to identify manually. However, the algorithms used by these cameras make it simple to detect drivers who are using their phones or engaging in other distracting activities while driving.
Early signs are favorable. Police in the United Kingdom and the United States have reported a considerable increase in the number of offenses for using mobile phones or failing to wear seat belts. This might provide a significant incentive for drivers to obey safety standards while driving in order to avoid penalties.
Improve traffic flow:
These cameras can also help to alleviate traffic congestion on congested roadways. For example, they may identify illegally parked automobiles in bus lanes, ensuring that public vehicles halt in approved places and decreasing traffic delays and disruptions.
Disadvantages of AI-powered traffic cameras
Although these cameras have numerous benefits, they also have several downsides, the most notable of which are:
Software errors:
Although AI is frequently more accurate than humans at many activities, it is susceptible to mistakes. Software faults can result in wrongly identifying offending cars, subjecting innocent persons to excessive penalties.
Privacy concerns:
The most contentious topic involves privacy. As these cameras grow more common, they will capture photos of a huge number of drivers, raising worries about security and confidentiality of important information.
Future of AI-Powered Traffic Cameras:
Given privacy issues and the possibility of inaccuracy, it may take some time before these cameras become widely used in most nations. However, resolving these issues will result in the creation of the required rules to ensure that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks.