Posted on the 5th November 2026 in PHTM News
LONDON MAYOR WARNS OF CONGESTION AND MASSIVE JOB LOSSES AS ROBOTAXIS PREPARE TO ROLL-OUT
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the government to curb the expansion of driverless vehicles in the capital, warning that an unregulated influx of robotaxis risks worsening traffic gridlock and devastating the livelihoods of thousands of taxi and private hire drivers.
In an interview published on 1 November, Khan argued that politicians have failed to grasp the sheer speed of technological change and insisted that Transport for London (TfL) must be granted direct licensing powers to cap vehicle numbers.
Under current rules, TfL can grant or deny consent for their use, but it cannot actively regulate or manage autonomous fleets once approved.
Highlighting the city’s complex road network, Khan warned against a premature rollout, stating: "What we don’t want is a situation where there’s a big bang without proper regulation in place. London isn’t San Francisco. We’re a city of almost 10 million, 400 villages, narrow roads, and it’s really important to get this right."
The Mayor's warning comes as major tech companies accelerate plans to launch commercial driverless taxi services across the UK by 2027. Following the Department for Transport's May 2026 decision to open applications for its self-driving passenger pilot scheme, industry momentum has built rapidly.
Uber and British firm Wayve launched limited passenger trials with human safety drivers in September 2026, while Freenow by Lyft and Chinese tech giant Baidu have been testing 24 autonomous Apollo Go vehicles in the London borough of Brent since July.
US-based operator Waymo is also preparing to enter the increasingly competitive market.
The rapid developments have triggered strong pushback from taxi unions, who have staged protests outside the London headquarters of several autonomous vehicle developers. While the government contends that self-driving technology could reduce the 88% of road collisions caused by human error, drivers fear widespread job displacement.
Danny O’Gorman, UK and Ireland general manager at Freenow by Lyft, acknowledged that navigating London’s unpredictable traffic remains a hurdle, but suggested affected workers could transition into new remote vehicle operation and servicing roles.
As companies compete to bring driverless services to London, the debate ultimately hinges on a fundamental question: should the future of the capital’s transport system be driven by technology companies, or shaped by the city and the people who rely on its roads every day? As the London Assembly continues its formal investigation into the safety, accessibility, and employment impacts of autonomous transport, the speed and scale of the rollout will determine the degree of disruption to London’s existing taxi market.
For now, the focus shifts to who will oversee this transition, how quickly it should unfold, and how to strike a balance between tech innovation and vital protections for workers and the broader transport network.
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