The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has called for London’s driverless taxi rollout to be stopped, citing concerns about passenger safety, regulation and the potential loss of private hire driving jobs.
The demand follows a report from the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, which said it had not received enough evidence to support the introduction of autonomous passenger services in the capital.
Operators prepare services
Several companies are preparing London operations. Waymo has been testing vehicles in the capital and is seeking approval to launch a commercial fleet of several hundred cars this year. Uber and Wayve have secured Transport for London (TfL) private hire licences for supervised self-driving services, where a human driver remains legally responsible.
Freenow and Baidu are also targeting a fully driverless launch in 2027. The proposed expansion has raised concerns among London’s 105,000 licensed private hire drivers, whose livelihoods could be affected if autonomous vehicles replace some conventional services.
Gholomreza “Rez” Kamyabi, an Uber driver and vice-chair of the IWGB Private Hire Drivers Union, said drivers were already under financial pressure and faced uncertainty about how they would support their families if autonomous vehicles replaced their work.
Questions over oversight
The Assembly committee has recommended that TfL work with unions and operators on retraining, redeployment and financial support for drivers affected by the transition. IWGB president Alex Marshall, however, said driverless vehicles could put thousands of jobs at risk while primarily benefiting technology companies and investors.
The report also questioned the division of regulatory responsibilities. Under the Government’s interim Automated Passenger Services permitting scheme, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency issues operating permits, while TfL must consent before a service can begin in London.
TfL cannot independently suspend or revoke a permit once it has been issued. The authority also has no formal role in existing driverless trials, and operators are not legally required to report incidents to it, although some have shared information voluntarily.
Calls for a just transition
GMB regional organiser Matthew Wright said the union welcomed the committee’s recommendations on passenger safety and the experience of disabled passengers, who may rely on drivers for assistance and reassurance.
“We look forward to working with TfL and the Transport Committee on the report’s recommendations to ensure London’s drivers have a voice and are not left behind,” Wright said.
GMB has urged the Department for Transport and TfL to develop a plan for retraining and redeployment before driverless services are deployed more widely. IWGB is seeking a complete halt to the rollout rather than measures to manage its impact.