A new technology is being tested in the UK to tackle the problem of littering on highways. About 40% of the country’s highways are significantly littered, with a large portion of the trash coming from drivers who throw it out of their car windows. To address this issue, a pilot project is being conducted in the southeast of England, where a new artificial intelligence (AI) system is being tested to automatically detect when drivers litter. The system uses surveillance cameras to capture footage of the highways, which is then analyzed by the AI. If the system detects that a driver has thrown litter out of their window, the footage is reviewed by human personnel, who then identify the vehicle’s license plate and issue a fine of up to £100 (€115).
According to John Reade, the chairman of the Clean Up Britain campaign, the situation is “disgusting” and “we should all be ashamed of how disgusting and littered our country has become.” The AI system is being tested on the A3 highway between London and Portsmouth, but the exact location of the pilot project has not been officially disclosed. The technology used in the project is similar to that used in a recent pilot project in Germany, where AI-powered cameras were used to detect drivers using their mobile phones while driving.
It remains to be seen whether a similar system will be implemented in other countries, including Germany. However, the success of the pilot project in the UK could pave the way for other countries to adopt similar technologies to tackle the problem of littering on highways. The use of AI in this context is a promising development, as it has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of litter on highways and improve the overall cleanliness of our roads.
