Kerala Roads come under the watch of AI-Enabled Cameras

Case Study of the Day: Kerala Roads come under the watch of AI-Enabled Cameras

Kerala's roads have seen a steady rise in the number of accidents over the past few years. The majority of these accidents are caused by traffic violations, such as speeding, jumping red lights

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Kerala Roads come under the watch of AI-Enabled Cameras Background

Kerala’s roads have seen a steady rise in the number of accidents over the past few years. The majority of these accidents are caused by traffic violations, such as speeding, jumping red lights, and reckless driving.
To address this issue, the Kerala Police Department decided to install an AI-enabled camera system on its roads to detect and penalize traffic violators.

Implementation of the Project

In 2020, the Kerala Police Department installed 200 AI-enabled cameras and now it increased to 726 AI-enabled cameras across the state.
The cameras use advanced AI algorithms to detect traffic violations, such as over speeding, lane violations, use of mobile phone, driving/riding without fastening seat belts/wearing helmets and red light jumping.
Once a violation is detected, the system automatically generates an e-challan and sends it to the violator’s registered mobile number. The violator can then pay the fine online, or at the nearest traffic police station.

Impact of the Move

The implementation of the AI-enabled camera system has had a significant impact on road safety in Kerala. According to a report by the Kerala Police Department, the number of accidents has decreased by 21% since the installation of the cameras.
Additionally, the number of fatalities has decreased by 29%. The system has also helped in identifying repeat offenders, who can be penalized with higher fines or have their driving licenses suspended.

Challenges that Remain

The initial cost of installing the cameras and setting up the system was high, with estimates ranging from Rs. 200 – 250 crore.
The system also faced initial technical glitches, with false positives being reported by the cameras.

Conclusion

The implementation of an AI-enabled camera system on Kerala’s roads has been a successful initiative in improving road safety in the state. The system has helped in detecting and penalizing traffic violators, leading to a significant decrease in the number of accidents and fatalities.