MONOcam
The German state of Rhineland-Palatinate has adopted a Dutch invention to fine motorists who use their mobile phones while driving. It is likely that other states will follow.
This concerns the MONOcam system developed in the Netherlands. The device uses a high-definition camera and artificial intelligence to automatically recognize drivers who use electronic devices while driving.
The cameras are usually placed in elevated locations, such as bridges, where they continuously observe traffic. When the system detects a possible violation, the images are stored and then manually reviewed by a police officer. If there is no violation, the images are immediately deleted to protect the privacy of citizens.
Roadpol
The Dutch police have been using the MONOcam since 2021 and, according to the Public Prosecution Service, now have 50 systems operational. The difference with the better-known ‘focus flasher’ is that the mobile MONOcam is usually manned and stays in one location for a few hours. The focus flasher is independent and stays longer in a location and enforces automatically (similar to a mobile radar and a flex flasher for speed enforcement). Sometimes they stay in the same place for months.
The MONOcam was previously tested in Germany, but actual implementation has only become possible after recent legislative changes, according to the European police organization RoadPol.
In Germany, it is also prohibited to use electronic devices while driving. However, the fines are much lower there: offenders risk a fine of €100 and one penalty point on their driving license. If you endanger others as a motorist, more severe sanctions may follow.
There is also criticism of the system in Germany, especially from the ADAC – the largest automobile club in Germany – which is concerned about possible violations of privacy. Critics fear that large-scale camera surveillance could lead to undesirable precedents.
Criticism
Proponents, however, emphasize that the focus flasher operates exclusively within the legal framework and is solely aimed at improving road safety. For the time being, MONOcam is only active in Rhineland-Palatinate, but if successful, the system could also be introduced in other states in the long term.
Assessing whether someone is breaking the law is more difficult in Germany, because Mercedes-Benz has two models that allow you to release the steering wheel under certain conditions in Germany up to a speed of 95 kilometers per hour. These are the S-Class and the EQS. This means that you can also make calls and text without getting a fine. It is not known whether the cameras know which cars are now equipped with this so-called Level 3 autonomous driving.