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Would you hitch a ride in a taxi without a driver? For Londoners, that question won’t be a hypothetical for much longer. Yep, robotaxis are on their way.
In the summer, we reported that Uber, along with tech firm Wayve, would be launching London’s first self-driving cabs. But now, it looks like another company will beat them to it. US company Waymo has announced that it plans to bring its driverless vehicles to the capital next year.
Here’s everything you need to know about when Waymo’s driverless taxis will land in London and what to expect.
When will London get driverless taxis?
Waymo said that it’ll begin to ‘lay the groundwork’ for driverless taxi services over the coming months, which will include working closely with Transport for London and the Department for Transport to secure the permits needed for fully driverless rides in 2026. You may spot their cars (white, with huge cameras on the roof) roaming around the city as part of testing over the next few weeks.
Under current government legislation, the cars can’t run without a human safety driver on board until spring 2026. After that, the trials of 100 percent autonomous vehicles can commence, but a full rollout won’t happen until the Automated Vehicles Act of 2024 fully takes effect in late 2027.
Who are Waymo?
Backed by Google, Waymo is already well established in several American cities, including San Francisco and LA, and has recently launched in Tokyo. If everything goes according to plan, London would become the first European city in which the vehicles operate.
How does driverless taxis work?
Before Waymo cars can hit the road, the company first maps out the city in as much detail as possible, noting every single lane marker, stop sign, zebra crossing and curb. The vehicles then navigate the city using the meticulously detailed map paired with real-time sensor data and AI that notes its exact location at all times. It’s able to predict things before they happen and plan for the safest outcomes thanks to experience it has built up over 20 million miles of real world driving and 20 billion miles in simulation. Travellers can simply hail a Waymo car through its app.
What are the benefits of driverless taxis?
The UK government says that introducing self-drive cabs will help reduce deaths and injuries on British roads, as they have faster reaction times than humans and have been trained on a large number of driving scenarios.
Heidi Alexander, the UK transport secretary said: ‘Boosting the AV [autonomous vehicle] sector will increase accessible transport options alongside bringing jobs, investment and opportunities to the UK. Cutting-edge investment like this will help us deliver our mission to be world leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal that delivers real change in our communities.’
They could also benefit people who are blind or partially sighted. Robin Spinks, who is head of inclusive design at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: ‘As someone who’s been severely sight impaired since birth, I’ve long hoped for the day when technology can safely enable spontaneous autonomous travel.
‘Autonomous vehicles systems should be accessible to everyone and we’re working with the community and our industry partners to ensure that the rollout of this technology prioritises the safety and diverse needs of riders and pedestrians.’
Is there any opposition?
Not everyone is optimistic about the driverless taxis. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, which represents black-cab drivers, has called the concept a ‘fairground ride’ and a ‘gimmick’.
He told the Guardian: ‘It’s a tourist attraction in San Francisco. Quite frequently one of them will lock up in the middle of a junction because it gets confused and the police have to come and park, wait for the Waymo man to get his laptop out and get it going again.’
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