AI cameras in Somerset clock thousands of driving offences

AI cameras installed at a collision hotspot by Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police have logged thousands of offences in just four months.

The new state-of-art cameras positioned on the A361 Frome Bypass, part of an ongoing package of measures to improve safety on the road, picked up more than 4,500 offences between March and July 2025 – including 4,407 incidents of no seat belt being worn, 74 speeding offences clocked at over 80 mph and 119 instances of mobile phone use.

The speed limit on the road is currently 60mph and as part of a road safety initiative, this could be reduced to 50mph.

Used by about 15,000 vehicles a day, the road has sadly seen six fatalities in five years (2019 to 2024) – four of these between 2023 and 2024.

In addition to the camera initiative, a joint partnership between Somerset Council’s Road Safety Team and Avon and Somerset Police, a road safety engineering scheme is also in the pipeline. Currently the subject of a feasibility study, this scheme could include a lower speed limit along with markings and other in-built safety features.

It is anticipated work could start in late 2026. In the meantime, AI cameras will continue to operate on the road.