.jpg)
THE TARIFF HEIST: TfL waiting-time proposals could leave London taxi drivers working unpaid
Transport for London’s (TfL) proposed changes to waiting time on pre-booked taxi journeys have drawn criticism from the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), which says the plans could leave drivers waiting without payment while their vehicle costs continue to accrue.
In an article published by the association in TAXI Newspaper, LTDA executive Anthony Street says TfL is proposing that “the meter should not start until the passenger is safely inside the taxi and any mobility aids have been loaded and secured.” He says the approach would apply to bookings made through apps, by telephone, online or in person.
The proposal goes to the heart of how drivers are paid when a passenger is not ready at the agreed collection time. If the meter cannot start until the passenger is in the taxi, a driver may arrive on time and then wait for an infinite amount of time while the passenger gets ready without receiving a fare for that period.
Street describes a common scenario: “You arrive at the agreed time. The passenger is still getting ready. 10, 15 or 20 minutes pass. You cannot accept another fare because you have committed yourself to this booking. Your costs continue, but the meter stays off.”
For self-employed drivers, that time has a direct financial cost. Street says drivers pay for their vehicles, insurance, licensing, maintenance and fuel, either directly or through a rental garage. “There is no salary arriving at the end of the month, no holiday pay and no employer covering the cost when a customer keeps us waiting,” he writes. “Our income depends on the work we undertake and the hours we put in.”
The impact may be limited on an isolated booking, but Street argues that delays repeated across a working day could erode earnings. Drivers may face a choice between accepting the lost time or working longer hours to recover the money. “Neither answer, as you’re aware, is acceptable,” he says.
Street distinguishes between time spent travelling to collect a passenger and time spent waiting once the driver has reached the agreed pickup point. “There is an important distinction between charging while travelling to collect a passenger and charging for waiting after arriving at the agreed place and time,” he says. “I believe TfL should recognise this too.”
The LTDA is not calling for passengers to be charged immediately in every case. Street supports a period in which passengers can board without an additional charge, followed by clear waiting fees. “A reasonable grace period, followed by transparent waiting charges, would protect passengers against unfair charges while ensuring drivers are paid for their time,” he says.
He also argues that waiting charges should be considered alongside cancellations and no-shows. A driver who has travelled to a pickup, waited and then loses the booking may incur both lost working time and travel costs. Street says fair arrangements for these situations are “equally important in this conversation”.
The association has raised concerns about how booking companies would handle the change. Street says TfL indicates that companies could continue charging passengers waiting or cancellation fees, even if drivers face restrictions on what they receive through the meter. “So a company might collect a waiting fee whilst you, the driver, who supplied the vehicle, attended the booking and missed other work, receives nothing,” he writes. “How is that remotely fair?”
Street is also seeking greater transparency over deductions and charges made by booking platforms, including commissions, technology charges and other fees. He says these need to be considered together with waiting time because each reduces the amount drivers retain after operating costs.
TfL also proposes removing the authorised booking extra of up to £2, according to Street, who says this could affect some journeys and result in double charging. He argues that any decision should be based on evidence about incorrect charges, rather than removing a legitimate source of income without assessing the effect on drivers.
The consequences could extend beyond individual earnings, Street says. If a booking becomes uneconomic after unpaid waiting, travel to the pickup point and commission deductions, drivers may be less willing to accept similar journeys. He warns that reduced availability could affect suburban areas and passengers who depend on accessible taxis.
The LTDA’s position is that the proposals should be assessed as a package, including waiting time, booking extras, cancellation fees and platform deductions. Street says the apparent value of a small charge can change once it is considered over a week, month or year.
“Every driver should respond to this consultation with their true feelings, so our voice is heard and something is done,” he writes. He urges drivers to provide examples of waiting times, cancellations, missed work and operating costs, adding: “We need a fair system for passengers, but fairness must work both ways.”
The proposals remain under consultation and are not yet in force. TfL’s taxi fares review is open for responses until 22 November 2026.
