On 9 June, Egis, operator of the A88 motorway, together with concession company ALICORNE and drone manufacturer Delair, carried out a first-of-its-kind trial in France on the A88 motorway, testing the use of long-range drones operating at night for monitoring and risk detection purposes. The initiative marks a major step forward in the development of technologies designed to enhance the safety of both road users and operational teams, while improving the efficiency of motorway network management.
A national first under real operating conditions
The use of long-range drones at night for operational motorway safety inspections is unprecedented in France. Egis and its partners worked closely to design, prepare and run the trial.
Two two-hour experimental flights were conducted both during the day and at night, under live traffic conditions and based on real-life operational scenarios, along sections of the 45 km A88 motorway. During each mission, the drone covered 120 kilometres. Equipped with infrared cameras, the long-range drone (a Delair DT46 vertical take-off model) was operated beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS).
The scenarios tested simulated the detection of anomalies such as an open access gate, objects on the carriageway, faulty signage and leaking retention ponds, as well as critical incidents including roadside fires, pedestrians, stray animals and wrong-way drivers – all situations that pose significant risks to motorway users.
Innovation supporting road user safety
Motorways account for only a small proportion of road accidents in France, 8% of fatalities and 6% of serious injuries¹. Although these figures have remained stable for the past decade, protecting all road users, whether heavy goods vehicle drivers or private motorists, and improving earlier risk detection remain important safeguarding priorities.
By collecting precise, reliable and geo-referenced data, drones can provide Egis operational teams with a powerful tool for anticipating incidents and improving service quality.
During the trial, data was transmitted in real time to the A88 motorway control centre based in Fontenai-sur-Orne, enabling rapid implementation of appropriate measures, including driver information via on-road variable message signs and dynamic signalling to reduce the risk of primary and secondary accidents, as well as the deployment of patrol officers. The images captured delivered valuable support for operational decision-making.
A complementary tool for safer interventions
In today’s road operations, network surveillance relies heavily on patrol teams operating from vehicles. The trial demonstrated that drone technology can:
- identify incidents faster and with greater accuracy, reducing response times for patrol teams;
- provide more detailed risk assessments, allowing the most appropriate resources to be deployed through better situational awareness;
- reduce staff exposure to hazardous situations.
At a time when accidents involving motorway service vehicles are common, this technology represents an important step towards improving safety for traffic officers, a key priority for Egis as a motorway operator.
Egis and its partners’ commitment
Egis operates 7,800 kilometres of motorways worldwide, used by more than 2.5 million vehicles every day. Operational excellence and the safety of both road users and on-road traffic teams are central to the Group’s commitments.
By partnering with drone operator Delair, Egis chose to work with a recognised European manufacturer and operator. At a time when Europe is strengthening its technological autonomy in strategic sectors, the partnership demonstrates the capacity of European players to deliver advanced, operationally proven drone solutions for critical infrastructure.
An innovative low-carbon solution
Alongside its safety benefits, drone technology fully supports the ecological transition by reducing the need for intervention vehicle journeys, lowering CO₂ emissions linked to motorway operations, and relying on quiet, energy-efficient electric technology (with CO₂ emissions reduced by a factor of between 700 and 3,000²).
The initiative is an important milestone for Egis in driving innovation to improve motorway safety and operational performance. It aligns with European ambitions to accelerate digitalisation and decarbonisation in transport infrastructure operations.
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¹ Source: ONISR final data up to 2025. Data relating to injury accidents recorded by law enforcement authorities in mainland France, together with estimates based on ONISR–Gustave Eiffel University modelling (Rhône Registry) https://www.onisr.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/etat-de-linsecurite-routiere/bilans-annuels-de-la-securite-routiere/bilan-2025-de-la-securite-routiere
² Source: Internal Egis study
