Transport Scotland is rolling out AI-powered cameras across the country’s roads in a £350,000 pilot scheme designed to catch people using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts while driving.
The technology, already proven in England and Australia, can spot offences in seconds and has issued thousands of fines in days during previous trials.
How the AI Cameras Actually Work
The system, called Heads-Up and built by Australian firm Acusensus, uses high-mounted roadside cameras to photograph vehicle interiors as cars pass at normal speed.
Artificial intelligence instantly analyses the images and flags suspected phone use or missing seatbelts. Human operators then review every flagged image before any fine is issued.
The cameras do not record video or use facial recognition. They capture only a single still image of the driver area, which is automatically deleted if no offence is detected.
Transport Scotland says the system will operate on various road types during the trial, though exact locations remain undisclosed to prevent drivers from simply avoiding them.
Thousands Already Caught Elsewhere in UK
Similar cameras trialled in Cornwall last year detected 3,280 mobile phone offences and 1,324 seatbelt breaches in just eight weeks.
In Devon and Durham, a four-week deployment caught more than 1,800 drivers using phones.
One AECOM-managed trial on the A30 in Cornwall issued £100,000 in fines in only six days.
Scottish ministers point to these results as proof the technology works and saves lives.
Privacy Groups Call It “Creepy Surveillance”
Campaigners are furious.
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, called the rollout “intrusive and creepy mass surveillance” and warned it sets a dangerous precedent for monitoring people inside their own vehicles.
She told the Daily Record: “Drivers will feel like they are being spied on every time they get behind the wheel. This is not the Scotland we want.”
The Scottish Conservatives also criticised the move, saying the money would be better spent filling potholes.
Why Scotland Is Pushing Ahead Anyway
Road safety statistics give ministers their justification.
In 2023, 171 people died on Scottish roads. Police Scotland believes distracted driving plays a major role in many crashes.
Using a phone while driving is four times more likely to cause a crash than drink-driving at the legal limit.
Transport Scotland wants zero road deaths by 2030 and sees the AI cameras as a vital tool alongside education and traditional policing.
A spokesman said: “We have committed to trialling distracted driver technology as we work towards our goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.”
What Happens If You’re Caught
First-time offenders face a £100 fixed penalty and three points on their licence.
Repeat offenders or those caught at higher speeds can face court, £1,000 fines, six points, or disqualification.
Police Scotland will handle all enforcement. Drivers will receive notices in the post exactly as they do with existing speed cameras.
The pilot is expected to run for several months before ministers decide whether to expand the scheme nationwide.
Scotland already has some of the toughest road safety laws in Europe. If the trial succeeds, these AI eyes could soon be watching drivers on every major route.
Thousands of lives have already been saved in places using this technology. The question now is whether Scots are willing to trade a little privacy for significantly safer roads.
What do you think: necessary safety measure or unacceptable intrusion? Drop your view in the comments below.
