Uber drivers have warned they risk becoming “collateral damage” in the rollout of driverless taxis in London.
Around 20 private hire drivers gathered in protest outside Wayve’s headquarters in King’s Cross on Saturday to raise concerns about the introduction of robotaxis which could threaten their jobs.
The protest follows the launch of the first driverless car trial in London last month, with a full commercial rollout expected in 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
While concerns have already been raised over road safety, passenger safety and the potential for increased traffic congestion, drivers are now warning of the impact the technology could have on their livelihoods.
The App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU), an organiser of the protest, said drivers are being treated as “collateral damage” and called for them to be compensated.
Uber driver Abdurzak Hadi, 50, joins members of the App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU)
PA
Driver Abdurzak Hadi said: “I feel like I’ve been treated like an old car that’s not needed any more, that’s exactly how I feel, like: ‘We can get rid of you now, we’re going to get a brand new car that’s going to do something different.’
“And I’m not a car, I’m a human being.
“So it’s going to have an impact on my livelihood. It’s going to have an impact on a lot of drivers in London who are actually will be forced to go and compete with a machine that could work 24 hours, and it will be very difficult for us to compete with that machine.”
The 50-year-old, from London, has been working for Uber for more than 12 years.
He wants the rollout to be stopped “completely”, and called on London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan to make his position on the issue clear.
Members of the App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU) take part in a demonstration near Wayve headquarters in north London
PA
In his message to Lord Khan, the ADCU member said: “Speak out, because a lot of people are going to be impacted currently as Londoners and these are the people you promised to protect in every aspect.”
Brent councillor Amandine Alexandre echoed calls for the mayor to speak up.
“I think he made some comments which makes me think that he’s probably not very enthusiastic about robotaxis but he hasn’t come out firmly against them when he has come out against the expansion of Heathrow Airport,” the Green Party councillor told PA.
“I think that we are facing a similar situation there with robotaxis because it’s going to really change London for the worse, and we still can decide that we don’t want them and we shouldn’t have them.”
The mayor’s office has been contacted for comment.
The London Assembly Transport Committee has urged the Government to give Transport for London (TfL) the power to set a cap on the number of autonomous passenger vehicles operators can deploy in London.
In its recent report, the committee said it has not yet heard sufficient evidence to persuade it that London should welcome driverless services.
TfL granted minicab licences for use on the self-driving vehicles in August.
Londoners can now hail autonomous vehicles through Uber, although each vehicle will still have a human safety driver who can take the wheel if needed.
Uber said previously more than 140,000 Londoners have already opted in to show their preference to use self-driving vehicles through the ride-hailing app.