Uber Denied License to Operate in London over Safety Issues
Recently a change in Uber’s systems has allowed unauthorized drivers to upload their own pictures in place of the original drivers' account, thereby allowing them to pick up passengers as if they were the booked driver.
The ride-sharing service Uber has been stripped of its London operation license for the second time in more than two years, for repeatedly failing on its safety and security measures.
Recently a change in Uber’s systems has allowed unauthorized drivers to upload their own pictures in place of the original drivers' account, thereby allowing them to pick up passengers as if they were the booked driver, Transport for London (TfL) informed.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is also the chairman of TfL, said “I know this decision may be unpopular with Uber users, but their safety is the paramount concern. Fully complying with TfL’s strict standards is essential if private hire operators want a licence to operate in London.”
Uber will appeal against the ruling. The process would likely to include the court action, which could drag on for months, allowing its around 45,000 drivers in London to keep operating, despite the expiry of Uber’s licence on Monday.
Uber’s boss who is also in-charge of northern and eastern Europe, Jamie Heywood said, “Over the last two months we have audited every driver in London and further strengthened our processes. We have robust systems and checks in place to confirm the identity of drivers and will soon be introducing a new facial matching process”.
Transport for London or TfL has said it had “identified a pattern of failures by the company including several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk”.
Adding, “Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time”.
The popularity of Uber, whose app-based ordering and demand sensitive pricing have also disrupted the business of popular London’s cabbies and other established tour and travel operators in many big cities of the world.
Since 2017, Uber and TfL have been at odds after TfL rejected the renewal request of Uber in 2017, reporting serious criminal offences and driver background checks.
Today, Uber is worth over $46 billion since listing as cab operator in May in London. In the year 2018, a judge granted Uber a 15-month probationary licence after making several changes to its business model.
In September, TfL extended the license for just two months, but at the same time imposed further conditions covering ride-sharing, insurance and regular check of driver’s documents.