Posted on the 6th August 2026 in PHTM News

LONDON ASSEMBLY AND GMB UNION RAISE URGENT SAFETY AND JOB CONCERNS OVER UBER ROBOTAXI TRIAL

Transport for London has sparked fierce debate after granting private hire licences for a supervised robotaxi service involving up to 15 vehicles operated by Uber and Wayve over a one-year trial.

While the initial phase will feature a licensed private hire driver behind the wheel rather than full automation, the decision has drawn swift criticism and caution from officials and labour representatives alike.

Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, noted that the approval was "not entirely unexpected," following months of deep investigations by the committee involving industry experts, operators, the Department for Transport, and international insights from cities like San Francisco and Oslo. However, she stressed that significant worries remain.

"The Committee still has many questions about the safeguarding of passengers, so we would not be expecting TfL to give consent at this stage for full autonomous operation," Russell stated, adding that their full findings and recommendations will be published in the coming weeks.

Parallel to the committee's investigation, the GMB Union voiced deep alarm over what it views as a perilous path toward driverless transport. GMB Regional Organiser Matthew Wright described the move as “a worrying development” that threatens thousands of local private hire drivers. Urging authorities to slow down, Wright warned, “We can’t go charging ahead with new technologies without considering the implications of autonomous vehicles on all parties.”

The union raised pressing questions regarding the economic and social fallout of automation, asking, “For drivers; how will they be supported to reskill and redeploy if their jobs go?

How will society cope with the lost tax revenue and potential increases in unemployment?” Public welfare and accountability were also brought to the forefront. “For the public, how will their safety be impacted? Who is liable for accidents? What implications are there for disabled passengers?” Wright asked.

Furthermore, the union emphasised that technology cannot substitute human interaction, stating, “For passengers, driverless cars cannot replace the knowledge, experience, and human connection that a skilled driver offers.”

With both the London Assembly and the GMB Union demanding rigorous scrutiny, the call for restraint is clear. Concluding his warning, Wright urged transport authorities to tread carefully: “GMB urges TfL to proceed with extreme caution.”


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