Drones

I am not very fussy about privacy, but considering what happened at Heathrow airport is think that having a license to use drones, particularly in not rural areas or airports is a good idea. 

I've not read all comments made so far; please forgive me if I repeat what others have written.

1. I don't see that a drone is inherently safer than a car. It follows that there should be similar rules for registration, use and insurance. I'd be unhappy if I was injured by one and was not abe to recover damages for injury, loss or expense. there should be a fall back insurance scheme similar to that operated by the MIB, to provide cover for losses caused by untraced or uninsured operators/owners.

2. Would it not be necessary for there to be regular test similar to the MOT?

3. I personally prefer to buy things in a shop (very old fashioned, I accept), and would not wish to see any increase in deliveries whether by drones or vans. I do, however, accept that for many, one obvious example being people who are houseband, they are a Godsend.

4. One writer made a distinction between a privately-operated drone and one worked by the police or fire brigade. I'm not sure I'd be happy about a police drone hovering close by for hours on end, even if the police thought that appropriate.

5. I don't mind whom I should complain to, in case of need. But whoever it is must have technical competence and funding. Councils certainly don't have spare resources at the moment. I suspect a central body with regional offices would be best. Up to the government to provide the cash; it can always increase taxes. A levy on all drone sales by manufacturers or dealers or both would cover the cost, and tie in with the registration process. Sorry if that adds £100 to the cost of a £50 drone, but there we are; who else should pay.

6. Crimes will be committed using drones; a further need for funds to pay for police work. 

7. Though old-fashioned, I accept the need for progress, but not at my or my neighbours' expense.   

I would expect to call one of the emergency services or the council -RBKC or the Mayor's office in case of complaint, noise or privacy issues.

Disagree re using them or small helicopters for parcel delivery.

There may be a requirement for emergency services for passenger use, but I would limit to that only.  Otherwise the skies risk becoming as crowded as the roads.  As someone else said, look at the chaos in Gatwick.  I would not like to see more risk to human safety or an additional means for terrorism.

Drones are a pretty new technology, and it's easy for people to get carried away by the recent tide of negative press about them.

The fact is though that like any technology it can be used for good or for evil, and it may enable things that people can't even imagine right now. Whilst I can see why people might have the knee jerk reaction of demanding mandatory licencing and insurance, the fact is that only law-abiding users will fulfil their legal obligations whilst the people who will cause the most danger will just get away with it - much like with road tax and car insurance today. The practical reality is it would be orders of magnitude harder to enforce draconian licencing rules on drones (which are after all tiny, high speed flying machines!) than it is on cars (which at least can't just fly away from the authorities) and we can't even manage that.

The solution I would suggest is:

1) To create sensible laws (or extend existing ones) to forbid antisocial or harmful use, with the option of heavy fines for anyone making money from their irresponsible or illegal use.

2) Work with the drone industry to provide technical means to the authorities to down drones that are found to be breaking the law, by interfering with their comms or by having emergency overrides for the controls. Drones which do not comply with this technology should be outlawed and criminal sanctions put in place for people who import, supply or own such models.

Declaration of interest: I do not own a drone, nor work in the field, but I also don't want to see the application of this technology made more expensive or impossible simply because of a lack of forward-sightedness.

Apart from emergency services, why do we need them in London?

They are loud, instrusive and in the wrong hands (eg terrorists or or press) capable of of being seriously misused.

They can also be dangerous; a drone in Geneva crashed close to pre-school kids this week.

No drones unless licensed - no licenses for leisure, personal or press use - high safety standards should always be enforced

I had a friend stay with me for two weeks holiday she is from Japan, on her first day with me in Trafalgar Square two people dressed as Mickey Mouse approached us and signaled for her to have a photo she was speaking so he picked up on her accent I took a photo of them with her smart phone and then Mickey put out his hand for payment so I gave him £1 he then opened his other hand and showed be £10 that was what he wanted I looked around for a policeman but none to be seen but Mickey number2 took off his head and was talking on his phone he was an asian guy I shook my head to tell him no I am not paying hin £10 and he became aggresive until I opened my mouth that was when he realised he wasn't dealing with a tourist and ran off, I sent an email to my politician and his reply was disgusting he said you shouldn't interact with street performers we didn't they appraoched us, what he didn't say was he will get the police down there and have them arrested and charged if anything our politicians fully support crime in the capital

This is nothing to do with TfL. It’s a matter for the CAA and air traffic. TfL would be better spendingbits time focussed on road and tail transport rather than trying to expand its empire.

When it comes to crime in London nobody wants to know, so I wouldn't call anybody. Drones to become widespread would be a disaster as our weak lying politicians would claim it is safe like our internet yet our politicians, banks, mobile phone companies, Amazon and the NHS have all been hacked yet it is still safe, these drones becoming widespread will be hacked and what is being delivered redirected and terrorist will replace the packaged with one of their own and send it on its way but of course our politicians will still claim it is safe

I would expect to call the police about drone noise or privacy concerns.  Failing that, my local Council.

I have no problems with drone use by emergency and public services.

I strongly object to use of drones for deliveries : safety, noise, lack of privacy, general intrusion, disturbance to wildlife especially birds.

I also strongly object to use of drones for passenger services, for all the same reasons as for deliveries.  In a city like London we should be encouraging people to travel by public transport, not facilitating even more air travel, even if powered by renewable energy.  It would massively affect what little tranquility we can find in the city having these things buzzing around.

Yes drones should be licensed.  They're potentially dangerous and a nuisance.  I had to go and explain to a neighbour what the law is on drones near housing.  He had no idea about any of it and was just flying it around all the neighbouring gardens. It made me feel spied on. 

Drones should be licensed for private use and strict guidelines in place. However enforcement of any rules would probably be minimal. Emergency services should be able to use them though.  More use for delivery would cause crowded air space in certain areas and invasion of privacy.  Don’t know what height they are allowed to fly over peoples gardens and in rural areas livestock could be frightened

Like all technology, drones can be useful or detrimental. Licensing might help, but how would you stop people using unlicensed drones?

If a drone was being a nuisance I would probably contact the council, as it could be considered similar to noise nuisance. But do councils have the funds to provide this service given that they are closing youth clubs and libraries?

Drones delivering parcels could possibly reduce traffic on the roads, but only at the cost of increasing traffic in the air - just as annoying. I'm not sure the technology is robust enough yet.

How environmentally friendly are drones? Not just emissions, but disruption to the environment, especially wildlife.

Drones do have there pros and cons based on which side of fence you are on.

It would prove to be safest and fastest to get something delivered during critical times.

However, if flights get delayed due to drones appearing it would become a terrible experience.

I strongly feel we must find a solution where they can co-exist and also look at carbon foot print

I would just like people to think about some of the positive points made by people who actually use drones and to keep a firm distinction between Hobbyists, commercial and delivery drones.

Hobbyist - They are usually restricted to clubs in private fields and do not effect the general public. They are well regulated and insured with practically no noise pollution and no privacy issues. Leave them alone. Campaign against the invasive use of CCTV and facial recognition if you are worried about privacy!

Commercial -  Again regulated and very controlled with a huge benefit to the public and great increase in safety for workers.

Delivery - I agree with most of the comments, while I perhaps could see this used in regions with low population density and buildings ( they use it in parts of Africa to deliver medicines); the idea that it could ever be practical in London is ludicrous without some quantum leap in technology.

Bottom line: stop talking about banning private use of drones. This has no effect on the general public and Gatwick / Terrorists / Prison drugs, etc will be continued by people who would not care about any laws that were made. Carrying a knife or gun is illegal and I have not seen any reduction in their use.

Drones should be use dby emergency services only. If to our pollution problems in cities we add now a sky with drones, air transport and other fancy machines, what is going to happen to us, pedestrians? We need fewer cars, more people cycling and walking and better urban planning to alleviate the problems of traffic jams, lethal pollution and dirty streets. Instead we now want to conquer the air and clogging with artifacts that don't bring any real solutions. Improve the rail system and streets will see a drop in cars.