High-tech cameras can capture drivers texting, calling or scrolling on their mobile phones and instantly expose the danger to motorists.

The cameras show that one of 200 drivers is using their smartphone while driving on the motorways.

Over a period of six months, a single camera identified 15,000 cases in which drivers could have their phones in their hands.

Police were able to arrest offenders up until now only by going alongside them.

However, the automated system now uses AI software to instantly analyse high-definition photographs taken by every vehicle’s windshield.

A trial of the smart cameras is being conducted on an undisclosed motorway in preparation for a ban on using mobile devices while driving beginning early next year.

It is a fresh victory for the Daily Mail’s End The Mobile Madness campaign, which has led calls for tougher penalties.

Jenoptik, an enforcement technology company, tested the cameras in the UK and believes that they will provide crucial evidence for prosecuting offenders.

Since spring, the pilot program has been in operation. It is expected that next year, a larger rollout will take place across the country.

Because the trial did not capture all data, and not every lane was monitored, it is possible that this figure of 15,000 will be much higher.

A driver is caught on camera using their mobile phone while driving on the motorway

The driver was caught using his mobile phone to drive on the motorway.

The new cameras that take pictures through car windscreens of drivers using their phones at the wheel

These new cameras can take photographs through windshields to show drivers with their smartphones at the wheel.

New high-tech cameras can instantly capture motorists calling, texting or scrolling at the wheel, as is pictured above

As shown above, high-tech cameras now allow motorists to instantly record calls, texts, and scrolling while driving.

Two Lorry drivers were killed when they caused a motorway pileup while checking Facebook.

The driver of a lorry was looking at Facebook from his phone when he struck a school bus with special needs. A pupil and the support worker were both killed.

Joe Cairns, 14, and Anne Kerr, 50, died and five others were injured when 34-year-old James Majury’s dangerous driving caused a multi-vehicle pile-up on the M58 in Lancashire in January 2019.

Preston Crown Court learned that he was texting, watching sports news, and using mobile games during his trip. He was sentenced to almost nine year imprisonment.

‘However, it does still relate to a significant number every day, which is quite scary,’ said Geoff Collins, of Jenoptik. 

‘Current findings suggest one in 200 vehicles show mobile phone misuse. This is a worryingly high figure.’

Those identified have not been penalised as the trial is a ‘proof of concept’ and will need legislative change for it to be enforced.

The cameras – which can be fixed to overhead gantries or fitted in portable trailers – use very high shutter speeds to take pictures through the windscreens of each passing vehicle.

Images of high-definition quality can be produced at any temperature and speeds up to 185 mph, without motion blur. 

Software that analyzes every image instantly flags any person found to be in breach of law and sends them to a group of human moderators for review.

If use of the cameras is approved by law, the images would be sent to police and notices of intended prosecution posted to the vehicle’s owner in the same way as speeding penalties.

This technology has already been used in New South Wales and Australia. It’s estimated to have cut road fatalities by half since being introduced 2 years ago.

The offense rate dropped to 1 out of 82 drivers in the pilot phase in 2019, and was now at 1 in 478 as of the October 31st.

Joe Cairns, 14, who along with school support worker Anne Kerr died in a crash caused by an HGV driver on their mobile phone in 2019

Joe Cairns (14 years), died with Anne Kerr (school support worker) in the collision caused by HGV drivers on their cell phones in 2019.

Ms Kerr, a teaching assistant, was killed in the crash on the  M58 close to junction 3 at Bickerstaffe in January 2019

Ms Kerr, a teaching assistant, was killed in the crash on the  M58 close to junction 3 at Bickerstaffe in January 2019

The aftermath of the crash which killed two and caused serious injuries to a further three teenage passengers

It was the aftermath of the collision that killed 2 and inflicted serious injuries on 3 teenage passengers.

Lorry driver James Majury pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and a further five counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years and ten months. He was using Facebook on his mobile phone when he caused the fatal crash

Lorry driver James Majury pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and a further five counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years and ten months. The fatal accident occurred while Majury was browsing Facebook from his cell phone.

The smart cameras are being trialled on an undisclosed motorway ahead of a blanket ban on holding a mobile device while driving from early next year

A trial of the smart cameras is being conducted on an undisclosed motorway in preparation for a ban on using your mobile phone while driving starting early next year

The UK Government declared in November that drivers would no longer be allowed to use their phones while driving.

Offenders will face a fine of up to £200 and six points on their licence. This is to end a loophole that currently allows drivers to be charged only for using their hand-held phone to text or call.

Mr Collins said there had been a ‘high level of interest’ in the cameras – designed by the Australian firm Acusensus – from highway authorities and police forces.

According to the Department for Transport, one in four drivers said they used a smartphone while driving in the last 12 months.

Drivers who look at their phones for longer than 2 seconds at 30mph will be 100ft blind if they do not use the phone.

‘Using a handheld mobile phone significantly increases the risk that a driver will be involved in a collision,’ Mr Collins said.

‘But until now it has been difficult to monitor and stop this behaviour. These trials have proved that AI can flag up drivers who continue to flout the rules.’