Motorway traffic drones are coming to UK roads, but will they drive us to distraction?
Summary
The UK’s National Highways agency is testing small, low-flying drones to monitor motorways and A-roads. They used a virtual reality driving simulation to check if these drones distract drivers, with hopes to start using the drones by early 2027.Key Facts
- National Highways manages the UK’s major roads and plans to use smaller drones for road monitoring.
- These drones will fly closer to the road, about 10 to 20 meters high, instead of the current 50 meters.
- Smaller drones are around 10 times cheaper than larger ones.
- A virtual reality driving test was held with 120 regular drivers and 19 heavy vehicle drivers to check if drones distract them.
- About half of the drivers noticed the drones during the simulation, but few found them dangerous or hazardous.
- The test tracked heart rate, pupil size, and driver focus to measure distraction.
- National Highways believes these drones will be a safe and efficient way to inspect roads and has been working on this for six years.
- Other countries like Australia and the US have shown interest in this drone technology for road maintenance.
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