TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Open RAN
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • 5G
  • Access Evolution
  • Private Networks
  • Cloud Native
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Sustainability
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • 5G
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Access Evolution
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • Cloud Native
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Open RAN
  • Private Networks
  • Security
  • Sustainability
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Automotive

Automotive

Uber fights London taxi rules as it tests driverless cabs in the US

Ian Scales
By Ian Scales

Aug 18, 2016

via Flickr © jurvetson (CC BY 2.0)

via Flickr © jurvetson (CC BY 2.0)

  • Uber gears up to fight London taxi rules
  • Meanwhile aims at dispensing with drivers altogether 
  • Live autonomous taxi testing starts this month

Uber, the ‘digital’ taxi firm, has been involved in a long-term scuffle with London taxi cabs and with the london transport authorities. Now it has a requested a judicial review to scupper new rules governing conditions of hire in London, set out by Transport for London (TfL), the capital’s transport regulator.

Uber is carping - in the usual way - that the rules are designed to hamstring its business activities to placate London’s Black Cab drivers and incumbent hire companies who claim Uber is unfairly competing because it doesn’t have to abide by the same rules - remind you of any other incumbent businesses agitating against multinational business models and unfairness?

After a “wide-ranging” consultation ending earlier this year, TfL came up with some new regulations: it would require written English tests for Uber drivers, and it would mandate insurance that covered drivers when they were not working. The rules also demanded that Uber should locate its customer service call centre in London, and should have to alert TfL of any changes to its app.

TfL says its regs are all about enhancing public safety and ensuring a vibrant taxi and private hire market. Uber says they will blunt innovation and the emerging digital economy.

But this tussle may soon be moot. In a few years’ time (if you lean toward a techno optimist persuasion) there may be no need for taxi drivers of any description - Uber or black cab.

Today Uber announced that it was going to be testing its self-driving taxis in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this month. The semi-autonomous vehicles are going to be assigned ‘at random’ to customers who are using the company's app. Bloomberg says the test fleet will use modified Volvo (Uber’s autonomous car partner)  XC90 SUVs, but the random passengers won’t be asked to take their lives in their hands - each car is to be supervised by a human in the driver's seat able to take over (finger tips just resting on the wheel) if the system has a Hillary Clinton-style short-circuit. The random passengers don’t have to pay but will be asked to ‘feed back’ Tripadvisor style and, of course, to tell their friends thus certifying that they had lived to tell the tale.

Bloomberg says Volvo is to deliver 100 of the self-driving test vehicles by the end of the year.

Related Topics
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • Automotive,
  • Business Models,
  • Internet of Things,
  • News,
  • Policy & Regulation

More Like This

5G

Seamless 5G connectivity: cars warn of road dangers across national borders

Jun 29, 2022

AI, Analytics & Automation

Telefónica and NTT DATA integrate 5G in CIE Automotive’s internal logistics

Jun 23, 2022

Private Networks

Singtel spies ‘metaverse for manufacturing’ opportunity with latest private network deal

Jun 17, 2022

5G

Singtel partners Hyundai Motor Group to develop advanced manufacturing facility of the future with 5G

Jun 17, 2022

5G

LiDAR, AI, Edge Cloud, and 5G Key in Vehicle Traffic Management Revenue Growth to US$4.9 Billion by 2026

Jun 7, 2022

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

10:14

Executive Interview: Vodafone’s Lucia De Miguel Albertos on the ultimate RAN Intelligent Controller

39:34

Figuring out the TCO of Open RAN

6:47

Dell's Role in Open RAN

4:24

Executive Interview: Neil McRae on BT's Open RAN Plans

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2022. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).