TRADE REPS CALL TO ACTION SCOTTISH PH ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR
‘HUMAN MOBILISATION’ AS ROBOTAXI THREAT LOOMS
The Scottish Private Hire Association (SPHA) has warned that the livelihoods of thousands of licensed drivers across Scotland are under direct threat from the impending arrival of autonomous vehicle (AV) fleets. While tech giants prepare to deploy “robotaxis” on UK roads, the SPHA is demanding that the Scottish Government and local councils be granted explicit powers to block, cap, and strictly regulate the entry of driverless cars into the market. The SPHA is proposing a radical “Human First” policy framework. Under this model, AVs would never be permitted to compete directly with human drivers. Instead, AVs would only be licensed as a secondary “gap-filler” to support human fleets during extreme peak-demand periods. Eddie Grice, SPHA General Secretary, said: “We are witness- ing the opening salvos of a battle between corporate algorithms and human survival. For decades, the drivers of the Scottish PH and taxi trade have been the backbone of our com- munities by navigating our cities, supporting the vulnerable and keeping the economy moving. “We will not stand by while Silicon Valley attempts to delete the human element from our trade. This is the beginning of a human mobilisation, the mobilisation of dedicated professionals who refuse to be replaced by sensors and code. “We are laying down a direct
PHTM APRIL 2026
challenge to
every Scottish
Council. Stand up for your people or stand with the tech giants. We demand that all councils join our call for the legislative power to cap and block AV numbers. “Councils must pledge to use these powers to ensure that the human driver fleet always comes first. If a robotaxi takes a fare that a human could have taken, that must be seen as a failure of governance.” While the SPHA supports broader calls for worker protect- ions, their primary focus remains on preventing displacement through strict market control. The SPHA is demanding the creation of licensing powers where councils must have the legal right to reject AV licence applications based on the pro- tection of the human workforce. They are also calling for a “Peak- Only Mandate” where legislation ensures AVs only operate to plug service gaps and never as a
primary fleet. The SPHA also supports prioritising the stability of the trade over “innovation” for innovation’s sake and they are also demanding economic impact assessments be carried out to study how AVs drain wealth from Scottish com- munities and into the hands of corporate tech firms. “Innovation should improve lives, not destroy them,” Grice added. “This human mobilis- ation is about more than just cars - it’s about the soul of our trade. We are ready to fight for the dignity of every professional driver in Scotland and for the long-term survival of our livelihoods.”
https://spha.scot 53
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
