ROBOTAXIS...ROBOTAXIS
LONDON NOT READY FOR DRIVERLESS TAXIS, REPORT ISSUES WARNING
London is not yet ready for driver- less taxis, according to a report by the London Assembly’s transport committee, which has urged TfL to withhold approval for a full rollout until much stronger safety measures are put in place. The committee argues that operators such as Waymo, Wayve and Baidu have failed to provide sufficient evidence that their bold safety claims will work on the capital’s busy roads, with concerns raised over passenger safety, increased traffic congestion and higher pollution levels. The report warns that driverless vehicles could make existing transport problems worse and questioned how passengers would be protected during emergencies if they faced assault, serious illness or threats without a driver present. The report also highlights concerns that TfL currently lacks the legal powers to limit vehicle numbers or revoke operator licences. Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL executives also expressed unease over current rules where the DfT controls operational permits, leaving TfL with limited regulatory authority. Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, warned that introducing robotaxis could put further pressure on London’s roads and public transport network. “Driverless cars may offer convenience, but could also delay local buses, add pollution outside schools or snarl up a busy junction,” she explained, urging TfL to focus on the public purpose of streets as spaces for all Londoners to travel safely, efficiently and conveniently.
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While driverless taxis already operate in several cities across the US and China, London’s rollout has faced scrutiny over accountability, safety, congestion and job losses for private hire drivers. A Centre for British Progress report warned that over 400,000 UK drivers, including 121,000 in London, could soon see their livelihoods become obsolete.
Although Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander accelerated the timetable in mid-2025 to target a launch by spring 2026, regulatory delays
have pushed timelines
back, with TfL yet to publish specific guidance. Operators must also pass a national safety assess- ment by the DVSA before running without a human safety driver, and as of late 2026, no operator has completed this multi-stage process, making a wider UK rollout more likely in 2027. Public opinion remains sceptical, with a YouGov survey showing just 29% of Londoners support driver- less vehicles while 42% oppose them. In response, the committee has issued 13 recommendations, including granting TfL greater control over driverless vehicle permits, tougher safety standards, accessibility for disabled people, and support for workers. Meanwhile, the ADCU has strongly backed the committee’s call for TfL to have more control over AVs, welcoming the report, which is available at:
https://shorturl.at/WamrV. The union has consistently argued that AV policy must prioritise public safety, democratic account- ability and workers’ livelihoods
rather than commercial interests alone, having called for a legally enforceable just transition and meaningful worker consultation in its June submission to
the
committee. ADCU General Secretary Cristina- Georgiana Ioanitescu said: “This report marks an important step towards ensuring that any future deployment of autonomous passenger vehicles is guided by the interests of Londoners, passengers and workers rather than the priorities of technology companies alone.”
She added that the union welcomes recommendations on protecting driver jobs, giving TfL stronger regulatory powers, and addressing road safety and congestion. “The Assembly has rightly identified this as a devolved government issue, something we know to be close to the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s heart, so we hope, and expect, that he will act to restore meaningful powers to license AVs to TfL - the body elected to manage, and regulate, London’s transport network - and away from the DfT,” she stated, emphasising that drivers and their unions must be involved at every stage of consultation. “We stand ready to work with both central Government, and TfL, to ensure our members’ voices are heard, loud and clear.” Both Uber and Wayve have defended their phased approach, emphasising that safety operators remain in the front seats of current vehicles and that autonomous cars will coexist alongside human drivers for the foreseeable future.
NOVEMBER 2026 PHTM
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