The voice of London’s private hire drivers
An independent platform tracking the issues that affect London’s licensed PHV drivers: driverless taxis, a fuel emergency, and a punishing new VAT. Evidence-based. Driver-led. Free to read.
Take action nowRead the latest| Driverless Cars Uber’s own number: one robotaxi replaces four drivers 1 = 4 Uber told Washington one robotaxi does the work of four drivers. It has never said so in London, where robotaxis are now carrying passengers, and TfL holds no projection of what they mean for driver numbers here. | Fuel Crisis Diesel closes in on £2 a litre, again 195.5p UK average, up nearly 5p in a week. Almost 35,000 price rises this month as Saudi Arabia’s main export pipeline shuts down. Over £1,300 a year extra for a full-time driver. | Taxi Tax 20% VAT on every fare, London only 70% Of passengers said they’d reduce or stop using PHVs. London’s licensing rules force the full 20%; nowhere else in the UK works this way. Treasury collects an estimated £700m+ a year. |
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ADCU Asked Who Is Responsible for London’s Robotaxis. The Answer Is the Driver in the Seat. 1 October 2026 - TfL and Wayve have answered ADCU's questions about the safety drivers in London's first passenger-carrying robotaxis. They are licensed PHV drivers, recruited through Otto Car,… 
London Has Had Too Many Minicabs for 15 Years. TfL Still Says It Can’t Cap Them. 17 August 2026 - TfL's own Commissioner admits London has "too much supply" of minicabs, a problem tracked for 15 years and never fixed. TfL says it still has… Sign the petition
A working driver, not a union or a company, started this one. Thomas Freitas of the Private Hire & Taxi Driver’s Network is asking Parliament to stop commercial driverless taxis until drivers’ livelihoods and public safety come first.
It needs 10,000 signatures just to get a government response. It had 2,344 on 24 September. With over 100,000 licensed private hire drivers in London, a push from the trade could get it there.
Sign the petition →Closes 10 February 2027. Hosted on the official UK Parliament petitions site.
About London Drivers Voice
Independent. Evidence-based. Written by drivers, for drivers. We track the issues that affect London’s licensed PHV drivers and hold government and platforms to account.
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