British transport authorities are examining the wider use of drones for road inspections and infrastructure monitoring after a series of simulation tests suggested the technology is unlikely to create significant safety risks for motorists.

The trials, conducted by National Highways, assessed how drivers reacted to drones operating near roads and highways. The programme forms part of a broader effort to evaluate whether unmanned aircraft can be deployed more extensively for surveying roads, bridges and other transport assets while reducing risks faced by human inspectors.

Officials involved in the project say interest in the findings has extended beyond the United Kingdom, with transport agencies in several countries exploring whether similar approaches could be incorporated into their own infrastructure management programmes.

According to project representatives, authorities in Australia and the United States have expressed interest in the methodology developed during the British trials. The testing framework is designed to assess not only whether drivers notice drones operating nearby, but also whether their presence creates measurable safety concerns or distraction.

Murdoch, who was involved in the project, said international counterparts were closely monitoring the results.

“We’ve had some interest from colleagues in Australia who are looking potentially to do some of their things to their road authorities,” he said. “And in the US as well, they’re looking at opportunities for this, but this kind of methodology is quite interesting and novel, so I think it’s something that globally we’re seeing a strong interest in.”

The research programme involved 120 regular drivers and an additional group of 19 heavy goods vehicle operators. Researchers included truck drivers in the study to determine whether those operating larger vehicles responded differently to drone activity near roads compared with motorists driving passenger vehicles.

The results indicated that approximately half of participants noticed the drones during the simulations. However, considerably fewer respondents reported viewing the aircraft as hazardous or dangerous. The findings suggest that visibility alone does not necessarily translate into concerns about road safety.

Transport officials view the results as an important step in determining whether drones can become a routine component of road network management. Infrastructure inspections frequently require personnel to work in potentially hazardous environments, including busy highways, elevated structures and restricted-access locations. Authorities argue that drones could reduce the need for workers to enter such areas while also improving operational efficiency.

Callum Brown, Senior Adviser on Airspace Standards at National Highways, described the testing programme as a significant milestone in evaluating the future role of unmanned aircraft in transport operations.

Brown said smaller drones are likely to offer one of the safest and most efficient methods for surveying roads, bridges and associated infrastructure in the years ahead. Their ability to gather visual data without requiring lane closures or direct human access to difficult locations has become an increasingly attractive proposition for transport authorities seeking to reduce disruption and operational costs.

National Highways believes the research represents a significant advancement in understanding how drone operations can be integrated into the road environment at scale. Brown noted that while comparable experiments had previously been conducted elsewhere, the British programme sought to establish a framework that could potentially be applied across an entire national road network.

“They did some tests similar to this in Massachusetts,” Brown said. “But in terms of trying to apply this nationally, this is a world first. We’re at the cutting edge for this and it’s something we’ve been building to for about six years now.”

The development comes as governments and infrastructure operators increasingly explore the use of unmanned aerial systems for inspection, maintenance and monitoring activities. Advances in drone technology have expanded their capabilities, allowing operators to collect detailed imagery and survey data while limiting the need for workers to undertake potentially dangerous tasks.

For transport agencies, the technology offers the possibility of inspecting structures and road corridors more frequently and with greater flexibility than traditional methods. However, questions regarding public acceptance, airspace management and driver distraction have remained key considerations in determining how broadly such systems can be deployed.

The National Highways trials were designed to address some of those concerns by placing participants in simulated driving environments and evaluating their reactions to drone activity. Researchers sought to determine whether the presence of aircraft near roadways would affect concentration levels or influence perceptions of safety.

Feedback from participants suggested that most drivers adapted quickly to the simulated environment and generally did not regard drones as a major source of distraction.

One participant, 49-year-old Kevin McKeown, said he initially found the virtual reality component of the experiment unusual but ultimately experienced no difficulty associated with the drone operations.

“It was a bit surreal like a video game, but if it increases health and safety and takes away an element of risk then I’m all for it,” McKeown said.

He added that motorists should be capable of maintaining focus despite the presence of drones operating above roadways.

“And if you can get distracted by a drone flying 10 metres overhead then I think you’ve got bigger issues than just a drone, and I’m not too sure you should be driving a car in the first place,” he said.

The findings are expected to contribute to ongoing discussions about how drones can be incorporated into national infrastructure management systems as authorities seek safer and more efficient methods of monitoring roads and public assets.

Few Indian business groups can trace their origins to a partnership that so clearly combined invention with institution-building as the Godrej group, one of the country’s oldest and most enduring industrial houses.

The foundations of the enterprise were laid by brothers Ardeshir Burjorji Sorabji Godrej and Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej, whose complementary strengths helped transform a small workshop in Bombay into a diversified business group that would become a household name across India.

Ardeshir, born in 1868 into a Parsi-Zoroastrian family in Bombay, was initially expected to pursue a conventional professional career. Like many educated Indians from affluent families during the British colonial era, he studied law and briefly worked as a lawyer after graduation.The legal profession, however, failed to hold his interest.

In 1894, Ardeshir abandoned law in search of a more entrepreneurial path, a decision that would ultimately shape the future of Indian manufacturing.Possessing a strong inclination toward engineering and innovation, Ardeshir turned his attention to product design and industrial production.

His early efforts focused on security products, particularly locks and safes, at a time when many such items available in India were imported.Working from a modest Bombay workshop, he developed locks that earned a reputation for reliability and quality. Over time, the Godrej name became so closely associated with locks and safes that the brand evolved into one of the most recognizable names in Indian households.

The products were designed to address practical needs while emphasizing durability and trustworthiness, attributes that would remain central to the company’s identity for decades.While Ardeshir supplied the inventive drive behind the business, the growth of the enterprise depended equally on the contributions of his younger brother, Pirojsha.

If Ardeshir was the inventor, Pirojsha was the builder. He played a critical role in converting successful products into a sustainable organization capable of expanding beyond its original workshop roots.

The partnership reflected a combination often seen in successful industrial enterprises: one founder focused on innovation and product development, the other on scale, organization and long-term institution building.Together, the brothers established a model that allowed the company to move beyond individual inventions and develop into a lasting business enterprise.

Their efforts unfolded during a period when India remained under British rule and domestic manufacturing faced competition from imported goods. Building an indigenous industrial enterprise required not only technical expertise but also persistence in developing production capabilities and consumer trust.

The Godrej brothers sought to demonstrate that Indian-made products could compete on quality and reliability. That philosophy helped distinguish the company in an economy where imported goods frequently enjoyed a perception of superiority.The success of the locks and safes business provided the platform for broader expansion.

Over time, the enterprise diversified into multiple sectors, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become one of India’s largest and most diversified business groups.The story of the Godrej founders also reflects a wider chapter in India’s industrial history.

Long before the country’s emergence as a major economic power, a generation of entrepreneurs sought to create domestic manufacturing capabilities and establish brands that could endure beyond their founders’ lifetimes.Ardeshir’s willingness to abandon a stable legal career in favor of entrepreneurship demonstrated an unusual level of risk-taking for the period.

His decision to pursue invention and manufacturing rather than professional practice proved transformative not only for his family but also for Indian industry.Pirojsha’s contribution was equally significant.

By helping build systems, institutions and organizational capacity around those innovations, he ensured that the enterprise would survive and grow beyond its founding generation.The enduring success of the Godrej group illustrates how the combination of invention and execution can create lasting commercial institutions.

Ardeshir’s products established the brand, while Pirojsha’s organizational leadership helped convert a small Bombay workshop into a business house that would remain a prominent presence in India’s economy for more than a century.Together, the brothers created a legacy that continues to occupy a significant place in India’s corporate and industrial history.