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.