London Scrutinises Driverless Taxi Future as TfL Faces Questions Over Autonomous Vehicle Rollout

• London Assembly to examine how autonomous passenger services could operate in the capital.

• TfL's role differs from conventional taxi and private hire licensing.

• Discussion expected to focus on safety, accessibility, congestion, employment and regulation.

• Government retains the power to approve or refuse licences for autonomous passenger services.

The future of driverless passenger transport in London will come under political scrutiny this week as Assembly Members question Transport for London (TfL) over its preparedness for the arrival of autonomous taxi-style services.

The London Assembly Transport Committee is set to examine how self-driving passenger vehicles could fit into the capital's transport network, exploring both the opportunities and the challenges presented by emerging autonomous technology.

Central to the discussion will be TfL's role in the approval process, which differs significantly from its responsibilities for London's existing taxi and private hire sectors.

Government Holds Licensing Powers

Unlike traditional black cabs and private hire vehicles, autonomous passenger services are not expected to be licensed directly by TfL.

Instead, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, will oversee the licensing regime. The agency will have responsibility for issuing, amending, suspending or revoking operator licences.

TfL's role will instead be to provide local consent and assess how proposed services could affect London's transport network and communities.

According to the Department for Transport, local traffic authorities—including TfL and the relevant London boroughs—will be expected to evaluate the local suitability and wider impacts of proposed autonomous passenger operations before services are introduced.

Wide-Ranging Issues on the Agenda

The committee's investigation is expected to extend well beyond the technology itself.

Assembly Members are likely to question how autonomous passenger services could influence:

• employment across the taxi and private hire sectors;

• licensing and regulatory oversight;

• road safety and collision risk;

• congestion across London's streets;

• accessibility for disabled passengers and those with additional mobility needs;

• passenger security and public confidence;

• cyber security and resilience against digital threats; and

• the overall balance of transport choices available to Londoners.

Members will also seek to understand whether autonomous services could contribute towards the Mayor's Transport Strategy, including ambitions around sustainable travel, reducing private car dependency and improving access to public transport.

TfL to Outline Preparations

Giving evidence to the committee will be Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Strategy, alongside Danny Price, Director of Sponsored Services and Regulatory Compliance.

The session is expected to provide one of the clearest indications yet of how London's transport authority intends to engage with companies developing autonomous passenger services and how it will work alongside central government as the regulatory framework begins to take shape.

With autonomous vehicle technology advancing rapidly around the world, the hearing is likely to offer an early insight into how London intends to balance innovation with public safety, regulation and the wider needs of one of the world's busiest urban transport networks.

The London Assembly Transport Committee will meet at 10:00am on Tuesday 14 July in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE.