Vincent: Trial of AI camera at North Perth intersection captures dozens of worrying daily near misses

An AI-powered traffic camera trial in North Perth has uncovered dozens of daily ‘near-misses’, prompting plans for safety upgrades at a busy inner-city intersection.

The City of Vincent analysed and released data collected from a “near-miss” AI camera installed at the intersection of Fitzgerald and Angove streets, which recorded an average of 38 close calls every day between February and April last year.

The camera uses AI to analyse traffic in real time, tracking drivers’ vehicle speeds, measuring distances between road users and identifying different transport types, such as cars, buses, bicycles and motorbikes.

The system is not used for enforcement or fines, and all footage has faces and number plates blurred to protect privacy.

Of the incidents recorded, 99 per cent were right-angle near-misses, or potential ‘T-bone’ crashes, and 81 per cent involved drivers travelling above the 40km/h speed limit.

More concerningly, 37 per cent of right-angle near-misses involved speeds above 50km/h, which is above the speed limit considered survivable.

The camera also detected 16 near-misses involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Between 2020 and 2024, there were 20 recorded crashes at the site, including two right-angle collisions. These crashes often involved high speeds that led to serious injuries.

The trial is the first of its kind in metropolitan Perth, with the City of Vincent the first local government to test the near-miss camera technology.

The technology was funded by the WA Road Safety Commission and delivered in partnership with Australian company LAB3, and is designed to help councils identify high-risk locations and act before serious crashes occur.

The City of Vincent will now work with Main Roads WA to investigate upgrades aimed at improving safety at the intersection.