Assembly Member questions 'ignorance' shown by TfL over reporting of taxi driver COVID deaths
A London Assembly Member questioned the 'level of ignorance' shown by regulators Transport for London (TfL) as the lack of reporting of taxi and private hire driver COVID deaths during the pandemic is highlighted.
Keith Prince, a Conservative Assembly Member, launched the scathing accusation as part of the latest round of Mayor's Question Time. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was quick to defend TfL, stating that recording the number of drivers who have died in service during the pandemic was not feasible.
The Mayor of London has faced previous questions relating to COVID related deaths in the taxi and private hire industry during the pandemic.
Assembly Member Keith Prince highlighted a previous response from the Mayor where he states TfL were unable to report on the number of taxi or private hire drivers who have died in service citing a lack of access to the information.
Prince then asked Khan: "How can you explain this level of ignorance about the safety of a mode of service where TfL regulates drivers’ working conditions and terms of service?
"Please provide me with evidence that TfL has attempted to gather this data and any estimates TfL has made of Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) Drivers who’ve died from COVID-19 since March 2020."
In response, Khan said: "Every death of a taxi or private hire driver as a result of the pandemic is a tragedy, and I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of those who have lost their lives.
"At the start of the pandemic, Transport for London established weekly meetings with all taxi and private hire driver representatives and large PHV operators and taxi app companies so it could better understand the issues the industry faced and offer support through the pandemic.
"One of the topics discussed in these meetings was the feasibility of gathering information about the tragic loss of life within the industry.
"TfL asked trade representatives and private hire operators to notify it if they learned of any drivers that had sadly lost their lives due to coronavirus. Unfortunately, it was agreed through these meetings that there was no mechanism in which this data could be reliably collated, despite all parties agreeing it would be respectful to do so.
"TfL has learnt of the deaths of some licensees through media reporting and in some instances will be informed by the licensee’s next of kin. Where possible, TfL writes to the licensees next of kin to offer its condolences.
"I’m conscious of both the personal and economic cost of the pandemic on the taxi and private hire industries, and I’ve asked TfL to continue to work closely with the trade on the support available."
