LONDON — National Highways conducted virtual reality driving simulations in London, Manchester, and Birmingham to test public reactions to low-flying drones on motorways. The simulations were part of a plan to roll out smaller drones that can fly closer to road maintenance sites by early 2027.

Virtual reality company MXT created the driving simulation for National Highways, a government-owned agency responsible for major roads in the U.K. The simulator tests took place over a one-month period, involving 120 regular drivers and 19 heavy goods vehicle drivers. Participants were initially informed the trial was a standard road safety simulation and learned about the drone component after its completion.

National Highways intends to use drones to monitor 4,500 miles of motorways and A-roads. The smaller drones are approximately 10 times less expensive than larger drone models and are designed to operate at altitudes between 10 and 20 metres. This lower operating height allows them to capture more visual detail compared to larger drones, which are restricted to approximately 50 metres above road surfaces. The agency has utilized human-operated drones for road monitoring since 2020 through a collaboration with engineering company Arup.

During the simulation, approximately half of the participants reported noticing the drones. Afterward, participants were surveyed to assess the impact on their driving, and the study tracked physiological and vehicular metrics, including heart rate, pupil dilation, duration of eyes-off-road time, vehicle speed, and steering control. A minority of participants characterized the drones as hazardous or dangerous during the simulation.

Callum Brown, a senior adviser on airspace standards at the agency, said, "They did some tests similar to this in Massachusetts. 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." Kevin McKeown, a participant, said, "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. 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."