Toyota patents in-car camera tech to catch drivers running red lights

Toyota USA has filed a patent for in-car camera technology designed to record traffic violations committed by other vehicles.  

The exact types of traffic infringements are not mentioned, though it’s understood Toyota’s system focuses on intersections with traffic lights, to catch drivers running a red light.

According to patent documents, the autonomous system can identify and capture a traffic violation on camera, capture identifying markings (such as the vehicle’s registration plate), and then send the photo and data about the infringement to a server. It is not yet clear whether the images will be sent to law enforcement for further action.

The system is designed to interact with a second car acting with its own in-car cameras, meaning the technology could be able to photograph two different angles of the same incident.

Though not stated explicitly, it’s expected “vehicle-to-x” (V2X) technology (industry jargon for ‘vehicle-to-infrastructure’ communications) may have a role in the effectiveness of the system.

Part of the patent wording says: “The traffic violation vehicle identification system includes a first vehicle and a server. The first vehicle is configured to generate a first picture by photographing a traffic light in a travel direction of the first vehicle and an oncoming vehicle or a crossing vehicle at an intersection.”

The patent was reportedly submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It does not identify which Toyota car or cars might be equipped with the technology.