Private hire drivers disrupted a London Assembly Transport Committee meeting to protest the planned rollout of driverless taxis in the capital, reports PHTM.
The meeting at City Hall included a discussion on the future of autonomous vehicle technology, with industry stakeholders invited to give evidence to members of the London Assembly and TfL officials. Speakers included a representative from Waymo, the leading commercial robotaxi operator worldwide, and Wayve, a UK based autonomous vehicle technology company that secured more than a billion pounds in funding from Uber.
Drivers belonging to the IWGB Union stood and interrupted the meeting to raise concerns directly with London’s transport decision-makers. Protesters highlighted concerns around passenger safety, the impact of additional vehicles on already congested roads, and the threat posed to more than 100,000 private hire driver jobs.
During the meeting, one driver challenged claims made about accessibility benefits and raised concerns that disabled passengers’ needs were being used to justify the rollout of driverless vehicles. Another highlighted the absence of drivers from the discussions, questioning why those whose livelihoods would be affected had not been invited to take part.
The meeting was forced to a stop several times as individual drivers spoke out, with the committee and speakers leaving the room whilst security officers removed protesters.
Last month the government passed legislation allowing companies to begin testing robotaxis on UK roads and apply for permits to start using them commercially. Tech firms have been trialling the cars on London streets as part of this application process, but TfL still has the power to refuse to issue these permits in London.
Unions and other groups have raised concerns about the pace of development and the lack of consultation with the public and with workers who could be affected.
Alex Marshall, President of the IWGB Union said:
“We are sleepwalking into a crisis. TfL needs to wake up and put the brakes on this threat to our city. Robotaxis will clog up our roads, put the public in danger, threaten more than a hundred thousand drivers’ jobs, and transfer power from the hands of Londoners to the hands of tech execs.
“The people who live in this city and make it great have not even been consulted about this wholesale takeover of our public space. Decisions about London’s future cannot be made without the voices of the communities who will be affected.
(Picture: Olga Gonzalez)
