AI cameras monitoring drivers throwing litter from vehicles to be deployed on city bypass and A1
The six month trial, which has already begun, will run until March next year.
New CCTV cameras powered by AI have been deployed on the city bypass for a six month trial to record drivers and passengers that throw litter from vehicles.
The scheme, dubbed ‘Litter Cam’, will use AI software to detect litter discarded from vehicles on the dual carriageway. Cameras have also being installed on the A1.
In the last year, the road maintenance firm BEAR said it had collected 3,018 bags of litter, equating to over 15 tonnes, on the city bypass.
The trial aims to understand how frequently littering from vehicles occurs and to identify where and when littering is most likely to take place.
A privacy notice issued by Transport Scotland clarified the trial is not being used to identify individuals or vehicles, and no enforcement or regulatory action is to be taken against drivers recorded throwing litter.
It said the cameras will capture the rear-facing view of vehicles only, with no images of drivers or biometric data processed by the system.
Tommy Deans, BEAR Scotland SE network manager said: “Scotland is renowned for its natural beauty, yet the amount of litter discarded on these major routes is an eyesore and an embarrassment.
“Littering is against the law. This trial uses the latest technology to record incidents of littering. It is hoped the project will prompt people to think twice about committing this anti-social behaviour.
“Working on high-speed roads comes with risk but the risks during litter picking could be completely avoided if drivers/passengers took litter home. The resources invested in picking litter could be ploughed into other tasks that contribute to keeping these strategic routes safe and reliable for the people of Scotland.”
Andrew Kemp, chief executive of Litter Cam, said: “On projects we’ve worked on elsewhere we’ve seen a 40 per cent reduction in verge side litter. We are confident that working with Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland will help tackle the blight of litter on these strategic routes.”
Heather McLaughlin, campaigns manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “There’s no debate about the impact roadside litter is having on our country: 90% of people believe it’s an issue.
“As the lead delivery partner on roadside litter for the government’s National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, we’re pleased to support BEAR’s continued efforts to tackle this issue.
“Roadside litter is not only dangerous for drivers, wildlife and those who have to clean it up, but it also has a financial cost. We all have a part to play: give your litter a lift or take it home.”