Drones

My gut reaction is that this is unwelcome. London is a crowded busy city, and the air above our heads is sometimes the only space we have. However, drones are already here, and there needs to be a means of control / regulation. I would like to know if drones could replace some of the journeys being made by vehicle - would we see a reduction in these, or would they just add to the total number of journeys? I suspect the latter, as more and more things are ordered online. What's the impact on wildlife, particularly birds and insects? 

Drones need strict regulation whatever they are being used for. The are clearly potentially dangerous to members of the public should the operater loose control of the machine or there should be mechanical failure. They should be tightly controlled in where they can fly,who can fly them and what they can be used for. The streets and pavements are dangerous enough without having to dodge errant drones coming out of the sky

I thing they're 100% okay, and should be allowed if:

 - they aren't in Helicopter's/Airplane's air space/routes.

 - they weight less than 500g.

 - the pilot is respectfull towards others. 

 - the pilot or someone overseing the pilot is over 18y, which will be responsible for any damanges caused.

If these simple rules are followed, I don't see why anyone couldn't fly a drone anywhere.

Certainly not! Having suffered being held up by drones at the airport, when absolutely no one anywhere had a clue what to do, they are an unknown quantity and nothing but a menace!

There are so many positives, but the maluse of them is so dire, they should only be used by government agencies.

APG

I think drones have a great deal of potential to benefit London. While I have reservations I think we should get started, but with some guidelines on device registration, insurance, no fly zones etc.

I think formal legislation should follow at a later stage when we are better informed and have evidence. A lot of opinion is just that and we will damage benefits if we legislate early and do not work off facts.

I say let's  get started.

Drones do have a useful application especially when conducting external roof surveys which enables these to take place without the need for scaffolding. I would support licenced use, any used without a licence should be removed/ impounded/ destroyed by the police within the capital. The situation last Christmas at Gatwick is an example of how important it is to regulate their use.    

I agree with those who argue that the technology could be unsafe (crashing for example or used for terrorism - for example crashing into planes); that they could be used by people to look into homes and gardens and schools etc and invade privacy.  Also the noise in London is bad enough without them.  Noise in fact is now proven to be a factor in poor mental health. 

Do those who argue for the technology have a vested interest? 

I agree with the points on insurance, use by services ( with the law - but hey they snoop on us whenever they like anyway) plus private citizens who are registered and trained. Areas of activity need to be defined though anhd will bar across activity groups

They are-used for terror attacks but legislation would be ineffective  as the naught would simply order them from Amazon  or E bay. 

As others have mentioned, bringing in heavy-handed legislation could prove short-sighted in the future.

Technology is moving at an ever faster rate and with the improvement in electric motors and battery density, it won't be long before drones are carrying cargo, deliveries and even people. 

I think we should be speaking with drone manufacturers and working with them to improve safety to the public without stifling their use by hobbyists and innovators.

The surveillance and snooping aspect worries me the most. It means that there will be no privacy in flats, houses, patios, gardens, on balconies in fact nowhere and their range is shocking so one would never know. 

Noise is horrible and they are very dangerous in public places where the operator does not know how to navigate. 

They are not toys so should be registered and marked clearly so that one can see if it is police, post or perv!

Drones may be of some use in difficult situations, but I'm opposed to them because of the noise they make, the fact that they can be intrusive and the way in which our city is already cluttered - drones might be of some benefit in limited circumstances, but they are yet abnother intorusion into opublic space that needs to remain jus that - spacious.

I'm absolutely against. They'd be a disaster, in my opinion.

1. Noise - they have an intensely irritating operating noise. London is already distressingly loud

2. Crashes - how long before it's a London sport to shoot them down for their payload (heroin?)? If one malfunctions or is shot down and causes a road accident or death, or a broken house window, who is going to pay? 

3. Invasion of privacy/criminal reconnaisance - how many girls will be harassed by a hovering drone filming them as they relax in their gardens? What happens to their freedom when they must either submit to being filmed or be driven indoors to hide? Who wants some criminals flying a drone around a house looking for entry points and valuables? 

Probably a dozen other reasons not to permit them - these are just off the top of my head. 

Apart from use by the emergency services, use of drones should be strictly controlled and require permits with strict conditions, eg on safety and privacy, which are strongly enforced.

Drones should be as strictly controlled as strivtly as fire arms are in the UK.

Most of my thoughts have already been said so I'll just say that drones should be registered and controlled as strictly as fire arms are in the UK.

I am more worried about the fact that air rifles and BB guns which proved fatal to my cat and near fatal to my neighbour are allowed in the city! But drones that are for personal use are a dangerous menace: as a paraglider pilot, these idiots bring machines into your flight path endangering your life, and they terrorise animals. Only commercially licenced drones should be allowed

Drones may be of some use in difficult situations, but I'm opposed to them because of the noise they make, the fact that they can be intrusive and the way in which our city is already cluttered - drones might be of some benefit in limited circumstances, but they are yet abnother intorusion into opublic space that needs to remain jus that - spacious.