The mobile phone has become a constant companion. Or do you know when was the last time you left your home or home without a smartphone? Basically no problem. However, if you can’t get rid of your digital subscriber in the car, you endanger not only yourself but also others.
Distraction and carelessness are the most common causes of accidents on Swiss roads. This includes entering navigation destinations, changing the music or simply enjoying the beautiful scenery. But the smartphone remains the main cause of distraction behind the wheel. Besides making phone calls, reading and writing messages is particularly dangerous.
70 meters blind flight
If you take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds at 50 speed, you will travel almost 70 meters in this time without noticing anything about the traffic around you. The next pedestrian crossing or the next intersection is usually closer. It’s almost impossible to unlock your mobile, open Whatsapp and read the latest message within five seconds – it usually takes longer! Prolonging blind flight.
If the police catch a driver using their smartphone, the penalties are correspondingly heavy. But this is not easy. Authorities have to look at the car at the right time to convict a cell phone criminal. Often during check-ups, where the authorities monitor the traffic and pull the offending drivers straight out of traffic and fine or show them to the police. Among other things, belt violations are penalized during such checks. After an accident, police can also check the connection data of those involved to determine the cause of the accident.
cell phone speed camera
But it may be easier to catch cell phone criminals in the future. A new speed camera technology detects if a driver is using their smartphone. The so-called monocam is placed on a bridge and from there it monitors traffic in real time.
The AI pays attention to objects in the hand and the corresponding posture of the person behind the wheel. As soon as the Monocam detects a smartphone intruder, it automatically takes a photo. Trained police officers then have to evaluate the footage.
German test operation
Police departments in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate are currently testing monocam. Only if the officers notice a clear violation are the footage recorded and the crime punished. According to “Autobild” magazine, they have already uncovered three violations this month.
From next year, the single camera will be used everywhere in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the police, this would require ten devices. For the first time with Monocam, they have an automated way of recording cell phone criminals whose footage material appears in court. A similar system has been in use in Australia for three years.
And Switzerland?
In our country, it will probably take longer for cameras to find cell phone criminals. Currently, no police seem to be investigating the purchase of such systems. Apart from that, Adrian Gaugler, spokesman for the cantonal conference of police commanders, admits that “it must first be clarified whether there is a legal basis for such systems”.
This means that for now, cell phone criminals on Swiss roads will only be caught red-handed during labor-intensive checks.