London hire drivers urge Khan to block driverless taxi rollout
London's private hire drivers and their union are calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to halt the rollout of autonomous taxis, citing concerns about job losses and public safety. The demand follows a London Assembly Transport Committee report that questions whether the capital is ready for driverless vehicles, concluding there is "not sufficient evidence" to welcome autonomous passenger services.
Around 105,000 licensed private hire drivers face potential redundancy, according to the union. Companies including Google's Waymo, British startup Wayve, and Chinese firm Baidu are preparing to launch autonomous taxi services in London, with Waymo hoping to deploy "low hundreds" of vehicles this year. The committee's report highlights safety concerns, including test vehicles entering police cordons and turning the wrong way onto one-way streets, alongside worries about congestion from empty vehicles and accessibility issues. A YouGov survey found 42 per cent opposed autonomous passenger vehicles, compared with 29 per cent in support.
- London taxi drivers urge halt to autonomous vehicle rollout plans
- City Hall report finds London unprepared for driverless taxis
- Safety concerns and 105,000 jobs at risk drive opposition
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Several technology companies are preparing to launch self-driving taxis in London, vehicles that operate without a human driver. London's 105,000 private hire drivers and their union oppose this rollout, fearing widespread job losses. They are urging Mayor Sadiq Khan to block the services from launching.
Tech firms including Google's Waymo, British startup Wayve and Chinese company Baidu are planning to deploy autonomous taxis in the capital. A London Assembly Transport Committee report concluded the city is not ready for such services, citing insufficient safety evidence and pointing to test vehicles experiencing concerning incidents on roads.
Public opinion on driverless taxis is mixed among Londoners, with 42 per cent opposed and 29 per cent in favour. Beyond safety concerns, there are worries about empty vehicles increasing congestion and questions about accessibility for disabled passengers.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Autonomous vehicles represent a genuine technological advance that can ultimately reduce accidents caused by human error, whilst offering improved mobility for disabled and elderly passengers who cannot drive themselves. London should embrace this innovation to maintain its position as a global leader in transport technology, and the safety incidents reported appear to be teething problems in development rather than fundamental flaws; the technology also creates new employment opportunities in maintenance, monitoring and technical support sectors.
The case against
The concerns raised are substantial and premature: a London Assembly committee has already concluded there is insufficient evidence that the capital is ready, whilst test vehicles have demonstrated troubling safety failures and public opposition substantially outweighs support. The rollout would displace around 105,000 licensed drivers without adequate alternative employment prospects, and unresolved issues around congestion from empty vehicles and accessibility for disabled passengers suggest the technology and infrastructure are not yet mature enough to justify this transition.
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Originally published by The Register as “London cabbies want Sadiq Khan to slam the brakes on robotaxis”.