No renewal for ‘misleading’ Uber, LPHCA boss tells TfL

The Licensed Private Hire Car Association has written to Transport for London Commissioner Mike Brown to ask that TfL does not renew Uber’s private hire operator licence, following misleading statements about its safety record and the number of drivers that would be out of work as a consequence.

The LPHCA has raised concerns over a five-year period about the poor practices of Uber, its structure and the safety of the travelling public. In spite of those concerns, misleading information is being generated by a structured misinformation campaign.

LPHCA chairman Steve Wright said: “It is a downright lie to suggest that 40,000 drivers would become unemployed if Uber’s licence is not renewed. Legitimate drivers could simply work with or agency to any one of the other thousands of operators licensed by TfL, many who have their own or use other booking apps. If drivers meet the exacting standards held by the majority of TfL licensed operators, they would have no problem getting work elsewhere”.

He added: “Many of the drivers registered with Uber, already work with or agency to other operators, making any transition almost seamless. For others, the move elsewhere could take less than 24 hours as TfL would have already licensed them.”