Many accidents happen because of car drivers being distracted by their phone. When a driver is manually calling, he is 2 times as likely to be involved in a car accident. When a driver is sending messages while driving, he is 6 times as likely to be involved in a car accident.
Even though these shocking numbers are widely known to the public, ‘using the phone while driving’ is still a frequent occurring problem in traffic. For instance, 75.000 people per year do get caught using their phone while driving. Also, 11% of Dutch employers permit that employees send and read message while driving.
The Dutch Law Enforcement has decided to actively enforce the law against phone usage while driving. The Dutch Police Corps will use cameras that can determine if a car driver is manually using its mobile phone. The cameras will be infrared that can also be used at night. The underlying system is based on Machine Learning (ML). The system has learned to recognize people using their phone, by learning from image’s of phone and non-phone car drivers. Through this method, the system is able to distinguish a phone from other objects in the hand of the driver. When the camera detects a phone using driver, it will make a photo of the driver and the license plate of the car and send that image to a police station. A police officer will check the validity of the ‘evidence’, and when there is indeed a violation, the driver will get a fine.
The AI-based camera of the police will improve the traffic security significantly, as people will be less likely to use their phone during driving. It is interesting to see how the police slowly implements Artificial Intelligence into day-to-day operations. In January (2019), the police have opened a department focused on researching possible Artificial Intelligence applications within the police. The potential of Artificial Intelligence within de Law Enforcement is promising. How do you think that A.I. can be useful for the police?
https://nos.nl/artikel/2250136-campagne-gestart-tegen-appen-in-het-verkeer.html
https://www.agconnect.nl/artikel/ai-cameras-moeten-automobilisten-met-telefoon-hand-beboeten\
https://www.politie.nl/nieuws/2019/september/30/00-inzet-slimme-cameras-tegen-afleiding-in-het-verkeer.html
https://tweakers.net/nieuws/157980/politie-zet-ai-cameras-in-om-automobilisten-met-telefoon-in-hand-te-beboeten.html
https://vvn.nl/hoe-smartphone-aware-zijn-nederlandse-bedrijven
Hi Allard,
Nice post about the digitalisation of the police in the Netherlands!
Recently, the police already came up with another special way to control drivers using their phone: with a bus.
With this method, ‘spotters’ of the police force are looking down into people’s cars from the higher bus, identifying which drivers are using a mobile device.
When they spot a mobile user, they note the registration plate and type of the car, after which undercover cars will follow the car and fine the driver.
It is unfortunate that methods like these are necessary, given the dangers that you mentioned in your blog.
The question is, however, what will the ‘community’ do to counter these innovative ways of police control to reduce the amount of tickets they receive?
For example, when the A.I. camera will be used to check on mobile-using drivers, will this camera be easily spotted and placed on platforms like Flitsmeister?
When that is the case, the impact may decrease again because people will just stop using their phone when one is reported nearby.
I wonder how this will develop.
In conclusion, interesting progress of police capabilities!
Jeffrey
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/4834416/rijden-smartphone-breda-politie-bellen-telefoon-controle-bus
https://blog.flitsmeister.nl/flitsmeister-maakt-melden-van-mobiele-flitsers-op-alle-wegen-mogelijk-53e902279b8b