London’s ambition to become the first major European city to deploy fully driverless taxis faces significant challenges following a critical report from the London Assembly transport committee. The committee concluded that the city is not currently prepared to host robotaxi services and recommended that Transport for London (TfL) withhold approval for companies such as Waymo, Wayve, and Baidu until key safety measures are established.

The 66-page report, titled *Who’s driving the future of autonomous transport in London?*, was published amid ongoing government efforts to introduce fully driverless vehicles by the end of 2026. However, TfL has not yet issued detailed guidance on licensing requirements for operators, reportedly awaiting the findings of this review.

Among the report’s 13 recommendations was a call for the government to empower TfL to both grant and revoke licences for driverless vehicles, similar to the existing regulatory framework for traditional taxis. Doing so would enable the authority to enforce operational standards and respond swiftly to any safety concerns.

The committee expressed particular worry about TfL’s current lack of authority to limit the number of driverless vehicles operating on London’s streets or to suspend licences if incidents occur. It also urged operators to report “critical incidents” — including accidents, injuries, or failures of safety-critical components — to regulators within 24 hours. At present, there are no requirements to share data on “near misses,” which the report noted as a gap in safety oversight.

Another concern highlighted was the impact of empty robotaxis circulating without passengers, which has exacerbated congestion in several U.S. cities. The committee recommended that TfL implement a metric to monitor “empty miles driven” to better assess and manage this issue.

Private hire drivers, whose livelihoods may be disrupted by the rise of autonomous taxis, voiced apprehension during evidence sessions. The report called for a “fair transition” to include support for job losses, retraining initiatives, and a funding mechanism to assist workers affected by the technology shift.

The committee also noted problematic interactions between driverless vehicles and emergency services, urging TfL to develop a formal framework to improve coordination in emergency situations. Additionally, it criticised robotaxi operators for failing to propose adequate safeguards for passengers who may face assault, medical emergencies, or coercion while inside autonomous vehicles.

The Metropolitan Police underscored these safety concerns, pointing to uncertainties around how operators would detect and respond to incidents ranging from medical crises to violence, particularly when passengers cannot alert authorities themselves.

In response, the Department for Transport stated it is developing a “world-leading regulatory framework” for the safe introduction of self-driving vehicles, expected to come into force in 2027. It confirmed that any robotaxi trial in London would require TfL’s consent, with potential vehicle caps and considerations for impacts on local communities, employment, and road use.

As the debate continues, London’s path toward driverless taxis remains contingent on addressing these regulatory and safety challenges before the technology can be widely deployed.