Cameras against mobile phone use behind the wheel tested in Antwerp:… (Antwerp)
The road safety institute Vias recently tested a system with intelligent cameras in Antwerp that can detect mobile phone use behind the wheel. This showed that almost 1.5% of drivers were used while driving. In almost 8 out of 10 cases, the driver protected the hand, traffic drove smoothly. Vias advocates all devices behind the wheel to be electronic devices.
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At the end of 2020, Vias Institute in Antwerp conducted a test with a new smart camera system that can be used to process mobile phone use behind the wheel, but also other electronic devices such as tablets. “The intention was to check how meticulously the system works,” says Vias. “Only photos where a possible procedure was analyzed.”
cellphone in hand
The research shows that almost 1.5% of all drivers committed a traffic violation. “The system can identify different types of mobile phone use,” explains Vias. “In most cases (78%) the driver protected a mobile phone in the hand. To a lesser extent, the mobile phone was on the lap (13%), a call was made with the device at the ear (5%) or the phone was touched in a phone holder (3%).
Intuitively, you may think that drivers use their mobile phone more often when there is a traffic jam, but the figures from the analysis show that. In 95% of the cases, the driver started a policy when there was free and smooth traffic.
In addition, 14 procedures were used during the morning rush hour. Finally, 25% of drivers also drove too fast.
Zero road deaths in 2050
Vias also argues in favor of complying with the rules for passengers and controlling the use of all electronic devices, including tablets, behind the wheel. After all, the highway code still speaks of “a spoken telephone”.
Penalizing mobile phone use using slim cameras is one of the 32 measures in the Federal Road Safety Plan 2021-2025. The aim of the plan is to achieve zero road deaths in Belgium by 2050. The risk behavior that drivers should be halved by 2030. The government wants to prevent this by increasing checks and fines for repeated penalties.