Pilotless surveillance aircraft are being trialled across Britain, heralding a new era in the policing of our roads, writes Mark Harris

Speeding tickets from the sky might sound like science fiction, but the robot spy-plane technology that is used in the war on terror in Afghanistan may soon be coming to British roads.

Under a government-funded scheme, a new generation of pilotless drones could be patrolling motorways within the next five years. Although they will initially use cameras to record and monitor accidents and provide traffic-flow data, they have the potential to spot speeding offences and identify reckless or uninsured drivers.

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Already dubbed “sky gats” after the Gatso speed camera, the new devices will provide a bird’s-eye view of the road and cover far greater areas than a patrol car. However, some motoring groups have warned that they could result in a reduction in traffic police numbers, and mark a further step towards remote road safety.

The technology behind the drones is based on that of the military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that have been operating in Iraq and Afghanistan for several years to help identify and target insurgents without risking a pilot’s life. Some military drones are also fitted with missiles, enabling them to engage the enemy.

The drones will be operated by police officers from a control hub, who will be able to monitor images from the aircraft’s cameras and direct surveillance.

In America, the idea of using drones for policing roads is already well advanced. The Houston police department is planning to launch a $1m unmanned spy plane to patrol the freeways of Texas as early as June this year. The Insitu Insight aircraft, which has seen military action in Iraq, will cruise for more than 15 hours at a time, gathering information on drivers with the use of on-board video and infrared cameras.

Full article here.