News

Hundreds of CCTV cameras alongside UK major roads are to be upgraded to improve their ability to detect dangerous drivers and suspicious objects following a trial on the M6 toll road this month. Conducted by Aspectus Video Intelligence, the trial began on May 8 and involved 120 CCTV cameras focusing on the detection of stopped vehicles, stolen equipment, vehicles travelling in the wrong direction, people/animals on the road and unattended objects.

Software created by Aspectus automatically  alerted the M6 central security office of potential problems. "The aim is to reduce human cost and false alarm rates," says Gadi Talmon, CEO of Aspectus. "The system is not looking for any activity inside the vehicles such as driver's behaviour. The trial is now completed and we plan to deploy our system on the M6 and other motorways in the UK."

Meanwhile, the Highways Agency is considering lifting or varying the speed restrictions on stretches of motorway to protect maintenance workers, depending on whether work is being carried out or not at the time. When workers are off-shift, vehicles would be allowed to travel more quickly. And the police have admitted that their management of crashes on motorways - the police refuse to call them accidents and investigate crashes as "crime scenes" -could be improved. "This is an aim for the future," says Kent officer Mark Lamb.