“Highly likely” unlicensed drivers have gained access to the Uber platform says London taxi org

Image: Source; Taxipoint

Following a Freedom of Information request (FOI) by London's biggest taxi org, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), details of the extra conditions that have been imposed on Uber during their 8-week licensing extension have now been released.

According to sources at the LTDA, the FOI obtained from Transport for London (TfL) shows there are six conditions that centre around vehicle insurance and, in particular, Uber's online insurance checker and who has access to Uber's app.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the LTDA said they already knew that TfL had run prosecutions against Uber for permitting vehicles to be used without insurance, and says it now appears that it is "highly likely" that there have been instances of non-licensed drivers gaining access to their driver platform.

"We have also learned that Uber is ignoring court directives in Germany, which we believe is indicative of their disregard for regulators and courts and we contend that this attitude in Europe has to be relevant to TfL's licensing decision here in London," he added.

LTDA lawyers have again written to TfL highlighting the situation in Cologne asking, how, if Uber London’s parent company Uber BV (Holland) is not ‘Fit and Proper’, and a company that ignores court rulings cannot be, then how can its subsidiary, here in London, be deemed ‘Fit and Proper’?

In September, Uber were granted a two month licence to continue operating, a decision which raised a few eyebrows in the industry.

A TfL spokesperson said: “Uber London Limited has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application.”