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ADCU backs London Assembly call for TfL to take control of driverless robo-cab vehicle licensing
The App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU) has welcomed a London Assembly report calling for Transport for London (TfL) to gain stronger powers over autonomous passenger vehicles, and for protections to be developed for workers affected by their introduction.
The London Assembly Transport Committee’s report, Who’s driving the future of autonomous transport in London?, examines the potential effects of driverless passenger services on licensing, safety, congestion and employment in the taxi and private hire sectors.
ADCU said it had consistently argued that policy on autonomous vehicles should prioritise public safety, democratic accountability and workers’ livelihoods alongside commercial considerations. In evidence submitted to the Committee in June, the union called for a legally enforceable “Just Transition”, meaningful consultation with workers and their representatives, and stronger TfL oversight of deployments.
ADCU General Secretary Cristina-Georgiana Ioanitescu welcomed recommendations covering drivers’ jobs and livelihoods, a fair transition for the industry, stronger TfL regulation and concerns including road safety, congestion and passenger protection.
The union also backed the report’s position that licensing powers should sit with London’s transport authority. Under the current framework, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency can issue permits for Automated Passenger Services in England, while applications for London also require TfL’s consent. The Mayor and TfL have previously argued that licensing powers should ultimately be devolved to London to support local oversight and transport planning.
Ioanitescu said: “This report marks an important step towards ensuring that any future deployment of autonomous passenger vehicles is guided by the interests of Londoners, passengers and workers rather than the priorities of technology companies alone.
“We particularly welcome the recommendations on protecting drivers’ jobs and livelihoods, ensuring a fair transition for the industry, giving TfL stronger powers to regulate autonomous vehicles, and addressing concerns about road safety, congestion and passenger protection.
"The Assembly has rightly identified this as a devolved government issue, something we know to be close to the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s heart, so we hope, and expect, that he will act to restore meaningful powers to license autonomous vehicles to TfL - the body elected to manage, and regulate, London’s transport network - and away from the Department for Transport.
"Most importantly, drivers and their unions must have a seat at the table, and be involved at every stage of the consultation process, every discussion about workforce impacts, and every conversation about what a fair transition looks like in practice. We stand ready to work with both central Government, and TfL, to ensure our members’ voices are heard, loud and clear."
The report comes as companies seek approval to expand autonomous passenger vehicle activity in London. TfL approved a supervised Uber and Wayve service of up to 15 vehicles for a one-year trial in August, while the Assembly’s investigation has considered the wider conditions required for any future deployment.
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