New high-tech cameras that fine drivers £100 for tailgating catch whopping 1MILLION rule-breakers – would YOU spot them?
HIGH tech traffic cameras that detect tailgaters caught a massive 1 million motorists during a trial period.
The state-of-the-art tech, installed along four major motorways, was part of a wide-reaching test scheme.
National Highways ran the tests between 2017 and 2021 with 1 million motorists caught dangerously tailgating by the cameras.
Figures were obtained by , which sourced the data via an freedom of information request, showing a whopping 844,060 offences recorded by the temporary cameras during pilot schemes.
Dangerous tailgating is a careless driving offence and comes with a minimum fine of £100, serious cases can lead to a driving ban.
The first test of the cameras was on the M3 between October and the start of December in 2017.
During this pilot test a total of 237,648 possible offences were identified by the cutting edge AI cameras.
This was followed by a 12 month trial on the M6 in 2018 during which 319,787 cases of dangerous tailgating were identified.
Another test on the M20 between 2018 and 2019 registered 226,282 instances of drivers tailgating.
The final trial on the M1 near Northampton between October 2020 and September 2021 saw 60,343 motorists caught red handed.
Most read in Motors
No enforcement was taken against the hundreds of thousands of motorists caught in the act during the trials.
During the final trial however, motorists identified as repeat offenders were sent warning letters by cops if the cameras detected them.
The cameras work similarly to speed cameras but measure the distance between two vehicles the position of the same car at different points in time.
Tailgating presents a serious danger and causes a huge number of crashes every year.
There are hopes that the new cameras will help to lower the number of fatal crashes if rolled out.
National Highways told the that there were 'no plans at present' to roll out the cameras permanently.
When asked if cameras could be used to enforce tailgating endorsements in the future a spokesman for the Government-operated division told the MailOnline: "This would be a decision for the relevant police forces as the enforcement body.'
"Driving too close to the vehicle in front of you makes it difficult to stop in an emergency, and is a factor in one in eight collisions on our network.
"Safety is our number one priority and we, along with our enforcement colleagues in the police, will continue to explore all opportunities to make our roads safer."
Estimates have suggested that tailgating is responsible for around 1 in 8 road accidents.
Read More on The Sun
Tailgating is usually an offence that can only be enforced by coppers on the road if they witness it.
The new traffic cameras will make it possible for police to enforce the offence even when they're not present to witness it.