Transport for London (TfL) will not grant Uber a new operating license after a series of security missteps.
The city’s regulator of private-hire services said it has identified “a pattern of failures” by the ridesharing firm, including several breaches that put passengers at risk.
“Safety is our absolute top priority,” according to Helen Chapman, director of licensing, regulation, and charging at TfL.
Uber initially lost its license in 2017, but was granted two extensions—the most recent of which expired on Monday.
“While we recognize Uber has made improvements, it is unacceptable that [it] has allowed passengers to get into minicabs with drivers who are potentially unlicensed and uninsured,” Chapman said in a statement.
Previously, a change to the company’s systems allowed unauthorized drivers to upload their photos to other operator accounts, impersonating the booked chauffeur to pick up passengers.
Another flaw authorized dismissed or suspended drivers to create an account and carry passengers.
Several insurance-related breaches led TfL to prosecure Uber earlier this year.
“Despite addressing some of these issues, [Transport for London] 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,” a government news release said.
Uber has 21 days to appeal, all the while continuing to operate in the crowded city. TfL, however, is keeping a close eye on the firm and its management.
“We understand we’re held to a high bar, as we should be. But this TfL decision is just wrong,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote in a tweet.
“Over the last two years we have fundamentally changed how we operate in London,” he continued. “We have come very far—and we will keep going, for the millions of drivers and riders who rely on us.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted a message of support for TfL’s decision, which he “completely understand[s].”
“I know this decision may be unpopular with Uber users but their safety is the paramount concern,” Khan said. “Regulations are there to keep Londoners safe, and fully complying with TfL’s strict standards is essential if private hire operators want a license to operate in London.”
As the BBC pointed out, Bulgaria and Hungary have stripped Uber’s right to operate following pressure from local taxi unions. And in May, the US firm withdrew its UberXL service in Turkey without explanation.
It also pulled out of Denmark in 2017 due to new taxi laws that require drivers to have fare meters and seat sensors.
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