ROBOTAXIS...ROBOTAXIS
MINISTERS URGED TO HAND TfL FULL CONTROL OF DRIVERLESS TAXIS AHEAD OF LONDON ROLLOUT
Ministers are facing growing pressure to hand full control of autonomous taxi trials to TfL as the capital prepares for the arrival of “robotaxis.”
While the DfT previously stated plans to fast-track small-scale driverless testing in 2026 ahead of a wider rollout in 2027, companies such as Uber, Wayve, and Waymo are already seeking approval or actively testing fleets in London. Under current rules, the DfT authorises driverless vehicles on public roads, but TfL holds licensing power over paid passenger services and must grant consent before
commercial operations can begin. Senior transport officials argue that central government inter- vention undermines local governance and risks diluting city transport oversight. Caroline Russell AM, chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, criticised ministers for overriding local authority, noting: “The regulation of all of this is being controlled by the govern- ment when TfL should have a licensing role in this.” She emphasised city regulators need oversight over operational rules, data sharing, and safety,
warning: “London has to get on top of many issues before anything gets unleashed on our streets.” Echoing these concerns, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord warned of a “risk” that the DfT could bypass devolved authorities during the rollout. He told the transport com- mittee: “There’s a risk the DfT would have greater regulation on auto- nomous vehicles (AVs) than TfL.” Transport leaders are now urging ministers to streamline the framework by giving TfL complete local authority to manage and regulate AVs across London’s transport network.
LONDON ASSEMBLY AND GMB UNION RAISE URGENT SAFETY & JOB CONCERNS OVER UBER ROBOTAXI TRIAL
Tf has sparked fierce debate after granting private hire licences for a supervised robotaxi service involving up to 15 vehicles operated by Uber and Wayve over a one-year trial. While the initial phase will feature a licensed PH driver behind the wheel rather than full automation, the decision has drawn swift criticism and caution from officials and labour representatives alike. Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Com- mittee, noted that the approval was “not entirely unexpected,” following months of deep investigations by the committee involving industry experts, oper-ators, DfT, and international insights from cities such as San Francisco and Oslo. However,
she stressed that significant worries remain. 50
“The Committee still has many questions about the safeguarding of passengers, so we would not be expecting TfL to give consent at this stage for full autonomous operation,” Russell stated, adding their findings and recommend- ations will be published soon. Parallel to the committee’s investigation, the GMB Union voiced alarm over what it views as a perilous path toward driverless transport. GMB Regional Organiser Matthew Wright described the move as “a worrying development” that threatens thousands of local PH drivers. Urging authorities to slow down, Wright warned: “We can’t charge ahead with new tech- nology without considering the implications of AVs on all parties.” The union raised questions about the economic and social fallout of
automation, asking: “For drivers; how will they be supported to reskill and redeploy if their jobs go? How will society cope with the lost tax revenue and increases in unemployment? For the public, how will their safety be impacted? Who is liable for accidents? What implications are there for disabled passengers?” Wright also emphasised the human interaction aspect, stating: “For passengers, driverless cars cannot replace the knowledge, experience, and human connection that a skilled driver offers.” With both the London Assembly and GMB Union demanding rigorous scrutiny, the call for restraint is clear. Concluding his warning, Wright said: “GMB urges TfL to
proceed with extreme caution.” SEPTEMBER 2026 PHTM
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