Police in west metro are tackling distracted driving with new technology.
Have you spotted a tall, orange structure along Highway 7? It’s part of a $450,000 project by the Highway 7 Safety Coalition.
“We got creative with the grant,” shared Sgt. Adam Moore from the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department.
As the community expands, traffic has increased, leading to more accidents. Distracted driving stands out as a major issue.
“It’s very concerning,” added Sgt. Moore.
The Highway 7 Safety Coalition has teamed up with Acusensus. They’re using artificial intelligence to identify drivers who are distracted.
“When we tell a driver, ‘I have a picture of you with your phone in hand,’ it’s tough for them to argue,” remarked Sgt. Moore.
This tech acts quickly. If it spots someone without a seatbelt or using a phone, it alerts an officer within five seconds.
“This might be the first time this tech is used in Minnesota,” noted Sgt. Moore.
Amy LaValle knows too well the impact of distracted driving. She lost her 19-year-old son, Phillip, in a crash back in 2013.
“It’s totally preventable. These things shouldn’t happen,” she expressed.
Now, she advocates for safer roads and hosts “Just Drive Day,” celebrating its 10th year this spring. She appreciates the police for being proactive.
“People are openly using their phones. This is a great step,” LaValle said.
It’s worth noting that any photos taken by this technology are deleted if no traffic stop occurs.
On Friday, our cameras caught sight of the structure in Shorewood. However, don’t expect it to stay in one place. Sgt. Moore plans to move it around Highway 7 over the next year.
“We want to educate folks and encourage them to put their phones down,” emphasized Sgt. Moore.
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AI,Artificial Intelligence,Brett Hoffland,Driving,Reckless Driving
