Regulations are comming for the drone activity. ICAO hast just meet last moth and drafted an initial document about it. Expect some new national regulation being enforced by 2018.
While until now the drone or now called RPA (Remote Piloted Aircraft) have limited capabilities for the average casual user, the newest generation is far more capable and heavier.
People may like it or not but regulations are needed because while it is true the vast majority of users are serious and smart people, a small group of users are not and they are a hazard.
Some kind of aviation license and training will be a must for people flying anything other than a toy, specially in BVLOS.
The airspace is everyday more congested and restricted and professional pilots must know where and when can fly or not in an specific airspace.
I see with worry how people comment and post videos of drones flying in clouds or in top of clouds or at heights higher than 400 feet.
As a SAR pilot I fly my helicopter usually low, at around 1000 AGL, at 150 kts and I am starting to be concerned about finding something unexpected flying in front of me. I cannot see a drone in my TCAS, neither the ATC can, and probably neither the drone pilot will see me coming. The receipt for an accident is served.
I have seen some post of people claiming they know better and saying they knew no aircraft would be in the area, but let me tell you they are wrong. There is no way you can forecast or know that some specific aircraft, specially SAR, HEMS, Police or military would be transiting on this area or at your height. This is wh we do use TCAS, transponders, ATC, VFR corridors VFR Altitudes just to try to prevent midair collisions.
Unexpected aircraft in the system are a hazard that should be regulated
I think in Europe the regulation will be that you cannot fly any RPA inside any regulated airspace such ATZ, CTR, neither over crowds and surely not in urban areas and of course the maximum allowed height would be 400 feet AGL (Around 120 mts). It is already this way in Spain.
Larger numbers of more capable RPA are flying and even larger numbers are expected the next years. Regulations and training is needed so they can share the airspace.
Responsible use of the RPA would surely make Regulations more flexible and permissive but if we keep on seeing news about drones landing in the White House, or crashing and hurting people or flying around an international airport I am afraid regulations would get real restrictive.
I have been in this forum just few days but I have the feeling most people here are respectful and smart RPA users and this is the kind of attitude that would make that the RPAS are welcomed and integrated nicely into the airspace.
Fly Safe, fly smart, enjoy flying.