TfL unable to report how many taxi drivers have lost their lives as a result of COVID-19

Transport for London (TfL) are unable to report how many taxi and private hire drivers have lost their lives in service as a result of the COVID-19 virus says Mayor of London.

According to an occupational study conducted by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), men working as taxi drivers and chauffeurs are shown to be one of the most at risk of COVID-19.

The ONS analysed all 4,761 deaths involving the coronavirus in the working age population, those aged 20 to 64 years, in England and Wales registered between 9 March and 25 May. Of those deaths, 134 were taxi drivers or chauffeurs.

Nearly two-thirds of these deaths (3,122) were among men. Because of the higher number of deaths among men, 17 specific occupations were found to have raised rates of death involving COVID-19. The taxi and chauffeur industries featured highly on that list registering a rate of 65.3 deaths per 100,000.

In London alone there are over 120,000 licensed taxi and private hire drivers.

Of the 17 specific occupations among men in England and Wales found to have higher rates of death involving COVID-19, data shows that 11 of these have statistically significantly higher proportions of workers from Black and Asian ethnic backgrounds (BAME); for women, data shows that two of the four specific occupations with elevated rates have statistically significantly higher proportions of workers from BAME backgrounds.

According to the Mayor’s office, a total of 44 Transport for London (TfL) and partner organisations workers, have passed away in service due to coronavirus related illness as of 8 July. 34 of those deaths were part of the bus network in the capital.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Every death in service is taken very seriously by TfL. It has put in place a range of additional support for families and colleagues where there has been a bereavement.”