Uber granted 30 months license to continue operations in London

According to a BBC report, Uber has secured a 30-month or two-and-a-half-year license to keep its ridesharing services operating in London. It marks a protracted battle with the city's transport agency, Transport for London (TfL), over Uber's safety protocols.

"We are pleased to announce that @TfL has granted Uber a new 30-month license in London," Uber announced in a tweet on Saturday morning. "TfL holds our industry to the highest regulatory and safety standards and we are pleased to meet their high bar."

Uber first lost its license to operate in London in 2017, when TfL accused the company of exhibiting a "lack of corporate responsibility" with potential "public safety and security implications". It cited the company's shortcomings when it came to reporting criminal offenses, issuing driver background checks, obtaining medical certificates, and Uber's alleged use of Greyball, a software that hides the ride-hailing service from regulators. . Was.

The company later won a 15-month appeal in court, only to be stripped of its license again in 2019, when TfL said the company was still not "fit and proper" to operate in the city. In 2020, a judge granted Uber a license to operate in London for 18 months, despite the company's "historic failures". Over the years, Uber has added a number of safety features, including an in-app panic button, a way for riders to report their drivers for unsafe behavior, as well as the ability for drivers and riders to record audio during trips. capacity is included. capacity is included.

Last year, Uber lost a legal battle over the employment status of its drivers in the UK, prompting the company to classify its UK-based drivers as employees, providing them with a minimum wage, paid leave and other benefits. benefit was to be provided.

"As we continue to serve London, we remain focused on raising industry standards across all sectors," Uber said. "These include providing drivers with the benefits and safety they deserve, ensuring all Londoners can move around safely and have a fully electric platform by 2025."