Concerns have been raised after a Waymo test vehicle, driven by a human validation driver in manual mode, drove through a police cordon in Harlesden, north-west London. Calls have now been made to suspend the London autonomous vehicle trial.
Waymo autonomous cars have been mapping the streets of London(Image: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Demands are growing to halt the driverless taxi trial currently underway in London, amid worries over a “lack of stakeholder support and unresolved safety fears”.
Brent Green Party has claimed the self-driving vehicles “do not meet the minimum safety standards” after one car ploughed straight into a police cordon in Harlesden last month. Waymo — an American autonomous driving technology firm owned by Alphabet Inc, a subsidiary of Google — launched its London pilot last month, with ambitions to run a fully autonomous ‘robotaxi’ service before the end of the year.
The vehicles are not yet carrying passengers, instead mapping the capital’s roads while operated by a safety driver. Once the service opens to fare-paying passengers, there will be no human behind the wheel. Alarm bells were raised, however, after a Waymo vehicle veered into an active crime scene in Harlesden, Brent, on April 22.
Cllr Muhammed Butt said it would be “irresponsible” for the local authority not to engage with a global business(Image: Brent Council)
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Waymo’s depot — the company’s first facility of its kind in the UK — is also situated in the borough, at a Park Royal site that acts as the operational base for its driverless Jaguar I-Pace fleet. Brent Council described the firm’s decision to base part of its London operation in the area as “a major vote of confidence” in the borough.
Earlier this year, New York City halted its robotaxi trials owing to insufficient stakeholder backing, worries over the safety of self-driving vehicles, questions of liability, and the threat of job losses for professional drivers. Following last month’s incident in Harlesden, pressure has been mounting for a comparable suspension of the London pilot, reports MyLondon.
‘Beyond rational reasoning’
Brent Green Party has launched a petition calling on the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, to halt the trial after a vehicle drove through an active police cordon on Harlesden High Street while officers were attending a double stabbing. Waymo stated the car was in manual mode “with a validation driver in full control”, who has since been suspended pending an investigation.
The party has argued that had a comparable incident been carried out by the driver of an ordinary vehicle, they “would likely be under investigation and could face criminal prosecution”. Further concerns have been raised that the technology is being trialled without sufficient public consultation, that the vehicles could worsen congestion — particularly if they are continuously roaming the streets — and that they pose a serious threat to driving jobs.
US robocab firm, Waymo, is set to launch its driverless taxi service in London in September(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Green Party councillor for Harlesden and Kensal Green, Amandine Alexandre, who secured her seat on Thursday, commented: “The viral footage of the vehicle crossing the police line in Harlesden is deeply concerning. It is clear that these vehicles do not meet the minimum safety standards. The fact that such vehicles can operate without impunity, putting police investigations at risk of compromise, is beyond rational reasoning.”
Kilburn’s newly elected Green councillor, Suzanne Gallagher, stated: “We see the Waymo rollout as a data collection exercise which will have foreseen and unforeseen consequences for our community. There needs to be, as a bare minimum, some consultation with us before these technologies are imposed on us.”
‘We limit empty miles’
Waymo informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that scepticism “is natural” but maintains this “quickly fades” once residents become familiar with the vehicles. A company spokesperson remarked: “The UK’s Automated Vehicles Act 2024 establishes that when a vehicle is operating fully autonomously, liability rests with the manufacturer or software developer. We are engaging with community organisations, borough leaders, and city officials on an ongoing basis, to answer questions and address community concerns. We have also established an early dialogue with Labour representatives on specific policy areas.
“We want to avoid having vehicles roam empty, as this is highly cost-inefficient. We limit empty miles by rigorously matching supply and demand to ensure our fleet is highly utilised. When vehicles don’t have riders, we will bring them back to the depot or they will park in appropriate parking locations around the city to further limit empty miles.”
Cllr Muhammed Butt, who until Thursday led Brent Council, told the LDRS it would be “irresponsible” for the local authority not to engage with a global business that “is putting significant investment into Park Royal”. However, he stressed: “Engagement is not a blank cheque: it is how we raise residents’ concerns and ensure Brent’s voice is heard. Ultimately, the decision on autonomous vehicles sits with the national government and Transport for London, not Brent Council, but where new technology is operating in our borough, we will always press for safety, accountability, jobs and community benefit.”
A look at what it is like as a passenger in a Waymo driverless taxi
A spokesperson for the Mayor said Sir Sadiq Khan is “determined to harness the opportunities” presented by new and emerging technologies, including automated vehicles (AV) but also recognises “the potential negative impact” on jobs and the economy and will make sure it is introduced “in a way that works for all Londoners”. The spokesperson told the LDRS: “AV technologies must be tested and regulated appropriately to ensure their growth doesn’t come at the expense of congestion and safety on our roads, or our world-leading public transport and active travel networks.
“The Mayor will continue to engage with the growing AV industry, professional drivers and their representatives, and relevant policy stakeholders as we work to build a greener, safer, better London for everyone.”
The government believes self-driving vehicles “could unlock billions” for the UK economy by 2035, while also supporting growth sector employment and broadening travel choices — particularly by giving disabled and older people greater independence. The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that AV trials will not be permitted on public roads unless they have satisfied stringent safety standards and secured approval from the appropriate local authority. It also maintains that it places considerable importance on public consultation and regularly engages with trade unions and representative organisations regarding workforce implications.
A DfT spokesperson told the LDRS: “Keeping people safe on our roads is always our priority. Self-driving vehicles could unlock billions for the UK economy, but they will not be allowed to operate unless they have met robust safety requirements and received the backing of the relevant local authority. The Waymo vehicles currently on London’s roads are in a testing phase only, are not carrying passengers, and have safety drivers on board at all times.”