Edinburgh deploys AI cameras to track mobile phone and seatbelt use
A four-week survey using Acusensus technology aims to gather data on driver distraction to shape future safety strategies.
Edinburgh has deployed AI-assisted cameras at two key locations to monitor driver behavior and seatbelt compliance. The initiative marks a significant step in using automated technology to gather large-scale data on road safety across the city.
Starting July 30, 2026, cameras were installed at Calder Road and Silverknowes Parkway. Operating 24/7 for a four-week period, the system is designed to detect drivers using mobile phones or failing to wear seatbelts. While the primary goal is data collection, officials have noted that serious offences detected during the survey may be shared with Police Scotland for further action.
A data-driven approach
The technology powering the survey is provided by Acusensus, which has described the project as the largest survey of its kind in the UK. To ensure accuracy and privacy, the system employs a hybrid process: AI identifies potential offences, but every instance is subject to human review. Additionally, the images captured are anonymized to protect driver privacy.
This deployment is part of a broader, Scotland-wide survey commissioned by Transport Scotland. The effort seeks to quantify the prevalence of driver distraction and non-compliance with safety laws to better understand the risks present on the nation's roads.
Implications for road safety
The data gathered from this survey will be used to inform future road safety education, investment, and enforcement strategies across Scotland. By establishing a baseline of poor driving behaviors, authorities hope to implement more targeted interventions to reduce avoidable collisions.
Geoff Collins of Acusensus stated that the project will provide "clear evidence for the scale of poor driving behaviours on Scottish roads." The shift toward AI-driven behavioral monitoring allows for a volume of data collection that would be impossible through traditional manual policing.
Future enforcement
Despite the capabilities of the technology, local officials are emphasizing that the current phase is about research rather than punishment. Stephen Jenkinson, Edinburgh council's transport convener, stressed that "it’s important to stress that this is not a new enforcement programme."
What remains to be seen is how this data will translate into permanent policy. While the current deployment is temporary, the results will likely determine whether AI-assisted monitoring becomes a permanent fixture of Scottish road enforcement or remains a tool for periodic strategic surveys.