Fewer than a third of Londoners want driverless taxis on the road, poll finds

A London Assembly transport committee report has cautioned that autonomous taxis risk making congestion worse and putting drivers out of work, following a YouGov survey in which 42% of Londoners said they oppose the vehicles entirely. The committee says the evidence it has seen falls short of making a compelling case for bringing the technology to the capital, and is pushing for Transport for London to receive broad new powers ahead of full regulations taking effect in 2027.

Committee chair Caroline Russell warned that London's streets are 'famously old, idiosyncratic and crowded' before the city opens them up to an entirely new class of vehicle.

The report requires operators to report collisions and near-miss incidents within 24 hours, and wants TfL to monitor 'empty miles' driven without passengers as a way of addressing congestion concerns.

The prospect of long-term job losses among London's taxi and private hire drivers is a central concern, with the committee pressing for a transition plan that includes retraining provision.