Skip to main content

Uber wins right to challenge TfL’s English language requirement

Uber has won the right to challenge a Transport for London (TfL) rule which would require some of its drivers to pass an English language test. Announced by TfL last year and due to take effect from 1 October, the rule would mean that drivers who are not from English-speaking countries would have to take an English reading, writing and listening test, which TfL said was ‘in the interests of public safety’. Uber had previously supported the test, but now argues it is too rigorous and costly.
September 2, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
RSS8336 Uber has won the right to challenge a 1466 Transport for London (TfL) rule which would require some of its drivers to pass an English language test.

Announced by TfL last year and due to take effect from 1 October, the rule would mean that drivers who are not from English-speaking countries would have to take an English reading, writing and listening test, which TfL said was ‘in the interests of public safety’. Uber had previously supported the test, but now argues it is too rigorous and costly.

Following a judicial review, Uber has won the right to challenge the ruling if exemptions can be put in place, although there are other outstanding issues Uber wishes to challenge, such as TfL’s requirement for an Uber call centre in London.

Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber London, said: "We're pleased the judge has decided this case deserves a hearing. TfL's plans threaten the livelihoods of thousands of drivers in London, while also stifling tech companies like Uber."

Uber puts electric cars on the road in London

Ride-hailing company Uber is teaming up with 838 Nissan and 5445 BYD to offer drivers the chance to rent a fully electric Nissan LEAF or BYD E6 as part of a three month study in London.

Uber has partnered with The Energy Saving Trust, a UK organisation that promotes the sustainable use of energy, in the pilot which will look at how Uber and private hire companies can begin making the switch to electric vehicles.

By October, Uber plans to have more than 50 fully electric cars on London’s roads. It also plans to bring electric vehicles to its app in at least one other UK city.

Related Content

  • July 30, 2012
    How typical?
    Deployment of solar-powered LED road studs has provided significant cost benefits whilst reducing KSIs on notorious routes in South Africa. Can these results be replicated in other regions of the world and on less notorious stretches of road? According to Kevin Adams, Astucia's CEO, they can.
  • October 31, 2016
    London borough partners TfL’s drive for safer roads
    The Royal Borough of Greenwich is partnering with Transport for London (TfL) to run a new consultation on changes to the West Parkside and Pilot Busway on Greenwich Peninsula. Residents are asked to help shape the final plan by submitting their views on the proposals. The proposals aim to create a dual carriageway with dedicated 24/7 bus lanes on either side of the central reservation and improve road safety. It also aims to keep journey times for bus passengers travelling to and from North Greenwich low
  • September 3, 2013
    Bogota launches all-electric taxi fleet
    As part of Columbia’s new Biotaxis project, forty-five all-electric BYD e6 taxies have been put into service in the country’s capital, Bogota. The BYD e6 is a five-passenger, long-range, pure electric utility vehicle powered by an iron-phosphate battery. It is a crossover between a sedan and an SUV with a large interior space and additional 450 litre cargo space. The nominal range of e6 from a single charge is 300 kilometres. Using BYD’s internally-developed bi-directional charging and discharging techno
  • August 7, 2019
    Trust is the key, says Cubic’s Crissy Ditmore
    Trust is the key to encouraging people to take up shared mobility and MaaS services, thinks Cubic Transportation Systems’ Crissy Ditmore. She tells Adam Hill why sharing must be the way forward Crissy Ditmore is on the move. Director of strategy at Cubic Transportation Systems since September last year, she lives in Boise, Idaho, but doesn’t see a great deal of the city as she is “90% of the time on the road”. This is appropriate for someone whose business is working out how to get people from place to p