London drivers protest against autonomous taxi rollout

Private hire drivers in London are protesting the planned rollout of autonomous vehicles, citing fears for the livelihoods of approximately 100,000 drivers. Demonstrations were held outside Transport for London’s annual Transport Dinner at Guildhall and near the headquarters of Wayve in King’s Cross.

Members of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and the App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU) are calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL Commissioner Andy Lord to halt the introduction of driverless taxis. Protesters expressed concerns that robotaxis could lead to significant job losses, increased traffic congestion, and potential issues with road and passenger safety.

While a driverless car trial has already launched in London, a full commercial rollout is expected by 2027, pending regulatory approval. Drivers have described themselves as being treated like “collateral damage” in the transition to automated technology, noting the difficulty of competing with machines capable of operating 24 hours a day.