'Frankly shocking' risk-taking by motorists uncovered by AI-powered cameras

Motorists have been caught driving with children on their lap and both hands on their phone rather than the wheel in a trial of AI-powered cameras.

The road safety trial conducted at two sites in Birmingham and Wolverhampton captured images of almost 19,000 violations in just two weeks.

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said the findings were "frankly shocking" and showed that the level of risk-taking among drivers was far higher than anticipated.

In one example of life-risking behaviour, a front-seat passenger was seen with a small child on their lap with no seatbelt.

Dozens of other images showed children travelling in vehicles without age-appropriate restraints.

Another driver was captured behind the wheel with two hands on their phone instead of the steering wheel.

AI camera technology set up outside Ladywood and Fallings Park fire stations was used to capture the images in March.

At the Ladywood site, 11,045 potential offences were detected for not using a seatbelt and 1,163 potential mobile phone use offences were identified.

Some 6,030 potential seatbelt offences and 757 potential mobile phone offences were recorded at Fallings Park.

Mr Parker said: "The number of people risking their own lives and the lives of others, including some very young children, is frankly shocking and far higher than we expected when setting up the trial.

"The law is clear on seatbelts and mobile phones.

"I've met families who have lost loved ones to reckless driving. They never recover from these tragedies, the grief is always there.

"People need to stop doing this, it is simply not worth the risk."

He promised to take action to combat non-compliance on the roads and improve safety.

"As we review these results with our road safety partnership and look to next steps, I promise to use every resource available, including new technology like this, to make our streets safer for everyone," he said.

The trial was funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in collaboration with the police and the fire service.

More from Sky News:
Four arrested on suspicion of murder
Man dies in Birmingham pub stabbing

Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and chair of the area's road safety partnership board, said: "These initial findings are deeply concerning.

"Let me be absolutely clear: reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads remains our absolute top priority."

He said the trial's findings were being evaluated to consider how AI technology can be "deployed for future police enforcement".

"We cannot tolerate reckless behaviour that puts lives at risk, and we will use every effective tool at our disposal to ensure our roads are safer," he said.

Mat MacDonald, West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner, said: "Mobile phone use at the wheel and failing to wear a seatbelt are two of the leading causes of death and serious injury on our road network, and yet you barely have to leave your front door before you see someone taking these potentially lethal risks."

No follow-up enforcement is planned after the trial, which aimed to establish the scale of unsafe driving practices.

The WMCA said road safety data for 2025 showed mobile phone use was linked to 32 deaths and unbuckled seatbelts to 133 deaths on UK roads.

About 2,000 motorists in the West Midlands each year are fined and given penalty points for driving while using a mobile phone.

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Frankly shocking' risk-taking by motorists uncovered by AI-powered cameras