UK government launch drone standards to improve public confidence

UK drone standards are set to be introduced by the government in Spring 2018 to help strengthen public confidence in the technology’s safety, security and compliance, following an announcement at the House of Lords. These regulations aim to realise the industry's potential and its effect on business sectors such as transport and infrastructure. The conference highlighted the possibilities that drones will bring to freight and passenger transport, which it claimed will reduce the need for expensive infras
March 6, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
UK drone standards are set to be introduced by the government in Spring 2018 to help strengthen public confidence in the technology’s safety, security and compliance, following an announcement at the House of Lords. These regulations aim to realise the industry's potential and its effect on business sectors such as transport and infrastructure.


The conference highlighted the possibilities that drones will bring to freight and passenger transport, which it claimed will reduce the need for expensive infrastructure projects, slash road traffic, ease congestion, save lives and decrease pollution in cities.

Robert Garbett, chairman of the British Standards Institution (7041 BSI) committee on drone standards, said: “The development and adoption of the first quality and safety standards for the drone industry will make 2018 a pivotal year for an industry which is set to become a global phenomenon. It is the year when British and world standards will be crystallised, energising the industry, and enabling it to meet its full potential to the benefit of UK plc, and indeed economies worldwide.”

Challenges that lay ahead such as the levels of intelligence to make a passenger-carrying drone vehicle safe for use at speed and the liability for accidents were also recognised at the conference.

The announcement is sponsored by Field Marshal the lord Guthrie of Craigiebank on behalf of the BSI and Drone Major Group.

BSI chairman sir David Brown and politicians such as aviation minister Baroness Sugg attended the event alongside other senior stakeholders in the drone industry, including manufacturers, users, service  providers, economists, academics and media.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

BSI

Related Content

  • FTA, BMW support UK government funding for green cars
    April 30, 2014
    The UK government has announced plans to invest US$840 million ultra-low emission vehicle industry. It is hoped that this will help drivers both afford and feel confident about using electric cars. Announcing the funding during a visit to the Transport Research Laboratory, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister said: “Owning an electric car is no longer a dream or an inconvenience. Manufacturers are turning to this new technology to help motorists make their everyday journeys green and clean.”
    Read More
  • To charge or not to charge, that is the question
    January 26, 2018
    Alan Dron looks at why congestion charging and other similar schemes are so controversial in North America. In August, Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York State, described congestion charging for the city as “an idea whose time had come,” according to the Bloomberg wire service. In October, he announced a ‘Fix NYC’ advisory panel to study methods of easing congestion on the city’s streets. Although Cuomo did not specifically mention congestion charging when setting up the panel, he said it would study
    Read More
  • Rating agency Standard and Poor Tolling sees a bright future for tolling
    September 6, 2017
    Few disruptions appear on the horizon for global toll road operators, with the US poised to become a better bet for major investment, according to ratings agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P’s) Global Ratings’ 2017 report, which rates toll road operators according to their ability to raise capital. The outlook is generally stable for business conditions and credit quality for toll roads worldwide. One positive exception is the US where the overall outlook is ‘positive’ as S&P expects traffic growth to increase
    Read More
  • Michigan fosters real-world testing of workzone ITS
    September 19, 2017
    Turning a ‘problem’ into ‘an opportunity’ is the mantra of just about every business book and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDoT) looks set to achieve that aim in Oakland County, where 29km (18 miles) of the I-75 needs to be reconstructed. Running north-northwest from Detroit, the I-75 carries around 170,000 vehicles per day but, being built in the 1970s, it now requires an additional lane in each direction and upgrading to the latest design and safety standards. Upgrading will be carried out in
    Read More

Highlighted Content