Uber and other PHV drivers can drop-off inside Hammersmith & Fulham LTN, says Mayor of London

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Uber and other private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers can drop-off passengers inside Hammersmith & Fulham Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), says Mayor of London.

In a written question directed at the Mayor of London, Keith Prince, a London Assembly Member, raised a significant concern affecting female Uber passengers in the South Fulham area. These passengers, he reported, find themselves compelled to walk home alone at night. The cause? A fear among Uber drivers of incurring fines for entering the South Fulham Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), prompting calls for the council to reconsider this policy.

The Assembly Member’s question follows media coverage of women living in Hammersmith and Fulham raising safety concerns as Uber drivers refuse to drop them at their houses because of council cameras.

The heart of the problem is the hesitation of private hire drivers to venture into LTNs. These zones, while aimed at reducing traffic and promoting cleaner air, impose restrictions that have led to confusion due to varying regulations across boroughs and complex LTN boundaries. To avoid the risk of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), some drivers prefer to steer clear of LTN areas altogether.

Responding to the issue, Mayor Sadiq Khan provided assurances that the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham has clarified that private hire vehicles ARE permitted to transport passengers in and out of the zone without facing fines.

Until a more streamlined technical solution is found, Khan noted, drivers have the option to use designated access points or have passengers facilitate an exemption through a ‘visitor permit process’. Khan also pointed out that the borough would annul any fines issued in error, once the driver spent time providing proof of a legitimate private hire trip.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said in full to the question raised: “The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham have provided assurances that private hire drivers can transport passengers into or out of the zone without needing to pay a fine.

“While a more automated technical solution is being worked out between Uber and the borough, my understanding is that drivers can use specific access points or ask passengers to exempt them via the visitor permit process. If a fine is issued incorrectly, I understand that the borough will cancel it upon receipt of evidence of a legitimate private hire trip.”