Driverless Taxis Are Coming to London With No Worker Protection
Timeline
- April 2026: Waymo passenger pilot launches in London
- September 2026: Waymo targets full commercial deployment
- 2026: Uber (Wayve) and Lyft (Baidu) announce parallel London launches
- 2027: Automated Vehicles Act fully in force
US Data – What Is Already Happening
- Trips per hour fell 5.3% in AV cities vs 2.6% nationally Q4 2025 (Gridwise Analytics)
- Los Angeles: nearly 10% year-on-year decline
- Academic research: 57-76% reduction in frontline driving jobs projected
The Regulatory Imbalance
PHV drivers must pass enhanced DBS checks, medical exams, SERU assessments, topographical tests, and English language requirements. AV operators face none of these individual requirements. The LTDA has stated it has serious concerns. Addison Lee CEO Liam Griffin has warned of predatory pricing by AV firms in the Financial Times.
What Drivers Are Demanding
- TfL displacement impact assessment before any AV operator licence is granted
- Equivalent licensing and accessibility standards for AV operators
- Mandatory transition fund for displaced drivers funded by AV operators and government
- EV transition extended from 3 years to minimum 7-10 years