AI-powered camera installed on A30 Hayle Bypass to curb illegal U-turns
An AI-driven camera has been deployed on the A30 Hayle Bypass to monitor and deter illegal U-turns after a series of serious accidents.
A pioneering AI camera has been placed on the Hayle Bypass section of the A30 in southwest England to capture vehicles attempting illegal U-turns, a manoeuvre linked to ten collisions since 2014, including one death and multiple serious injuries. The device was installed by National Highways in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council after a 2021 ban and ongoing resident complaints. Police have already prosecuted some offenders through the Op Snap campaign, and the new system will feed video to Vision Zero South West and its partners, which include local councils, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Driving for Better Business.
Officials warned drivers that the technology will enable swift action against violators. The move supports Cornwall Council’s Road Safety Strategy, which targets zero road deaths by 2050. Senior road safety engineer Oliver Dash said the camera’s primary role is to monitor traffic movements and curb dangerous U-turns that exacerbate congestion and risk lives.
Why it matters
The AI camera seeks to lower fatal crashes on a high-risk road by enforcing a banned U-turn manoeuvre.
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