Is the Public Really Ready for Drones in Public Safety? Here…

A new study reveals what the public really thinks about using drone technology to increase public safety.  Published by commercial drone platform provider Cape, the study was the result of a survey of over 684 U.S. consumers.  The study offered several interesting insights, but one theme is clear – communities are ready and willing to see drones used for public safety.

Safety is Important 

The survey indicates that for many Americans, safety is a primary concern.  95% of consumers surveyed say that safety plays an important role in deciding where to live; over 80% said it was a deciding factor in attending a major event.   While consumers expect law enforcement to respond quickly to their needs, the vast majority also want to know that law enforcement is present: 93% expect law enforcement to be “highly visible” in their communities.

Far from feeling disturbed by being aware of a security presence, communities want it.

“When attending large events, 79% expect security personnel to be highly visible throughout and 66% expect security to have total visibility of the event regardless of venue or crowd size,” says the report. “The criterion for ultimate consumer protection comes with the very real need for more agile resources to these emergency response teams, and consumers are recognizing that fact.”

Education is Critical

Education about the benefits of drone technology is critical to acceptance.  When educated about a case study of drones in law enforcement, consumers were twice as likely to view drones as a tool for public safety, and 26% more likely to feel safer due to the use of drones.

“According to our study, when it comes to use of drones for public safety, U.S. consumers agree that better education about potential impact (84%) and more transparent communications about their use (88%) are key to increasing their comfort levels,” says the paper.

While drone use throughout communities is on the rise, most people’s first exposure may be through local law enforcement and public safety applications.  As the public begins to see drones as a tool for their service and safety, acceptance of more commercial applications will follow.

For more information, download the full report here.

 

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
Email Miriam
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker

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https://dronelife.com/2018/11/07/is-the-public-really-ready-for-drones-in-public-safety-heres-what-a-new-study-reveals/

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