PHV drivers lobby MPs for enhanced safety measures following Bolt driver killing

In an urgent push for improved working conditions, members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) are set to present their case for enhanced driver safety to MPs at the House of Commons on Tuesday 20 February.

This pivotal meeting comes three years after the tragic death of Gabriel Bringye, a driver for Bolt, who was killed while on duty, highlighting the persistent risks faced by private hire drivers and taxi drivers operating in the same cabin as their passengers.

Sponsored by MPs Diane Abbott and Bell Ribeiro Addy, the session aims to shed light on the dangers these drivers endure, with firsthand accounts from those who have experienced serious physical assaults.

Highlighting the human aspect of the campaign, video messages from Bringye’s sister and fiancée will also be featured, both of whom have been at the forefront of advocating for substantive safety improvements.

Under the banner of Gabriel’s Campaign for Driver Safety, the drivers are championing a set of concrete demands designed to mitigate the hazards they face. Key proposals include the provision of sick pay for drivers injured on the job, the implementation of password-protected customer verification systems, financial support for the installation of partition screens and CCTV in vehicles, and a commitment from Bolt to engage in regular dialogue with the IWGB.

Nader Awaad, Chair of the Private Hire Drivers Branch, said: “Drivers are seeking safety from violent attacks and Bolt is slamming its door in their face. No one should spend their working day worried they might be injured, traumatised, or, as in Gabriel’s tragic case, killed. Yet Bolt is still refusing to introduce even the most basic safety precautions, and life-shattering assaults are happening on a regular basis.

“We’re meeting with MPs to expose this disgusting disregard for drivers’ safety and push for the urgent change we need.”