Khan urges limit on London robotaxis
Sadiq Khan calls for cap on numbers of robotaxis on London streets
Sunday, 1 November 2026
Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash
Warm-up
- What new transport technology have you seen or tried?
- How should cities balance innovation and safety?
- When should governments limit a new service?
Vocabulary
- autonomous
- able to operate by itself without a human driver
- robotaxi
- a driverless car that carries paying passengers like a taxi
- congestion
- too much traffic that slows movement on the roads
- regulation
- official rules made by authorities to control an activity
- rollout
- the gradual introduction of a new product or service
- consent
- official permission given by an authority
- framework
- a system of rules and guidance for how something works
- intervention
- action taken to step in and control or correct something
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishLondon's mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called for a cap on robotaxis as the government plans to allow autonomous vehicles to operate in the capital. He warned that rapid change could harm jobs, worsen congestion and affect air quality, and he questioned whether current regulation is fit for purpose.
Several companies are testing services. Uber began limited passenger rides in September using Wayve's self-driving cars, with a safety driver, under licence from Transport for London (TfL). Freenow by Lyft has unveiled Chinese robotaxis and hopes to launch fully driverless Baidu Apollo Go cars under a national framework. Waymo, a US operator, is also focused on London.
About 24 Apollo Go vehicles are being tested in Brent. They appeared to handle streets safely, but many trips still need human intervention, especially near roadworks. Under current rules for fully autonomous vehicles, TfL can give or refuse consent for their use in London but cannot manage or license robotaxi services. Khan said London's narrow roads and scale mean any rollout must be careful, and that TfL needs stronger powers to regulate numbers.
Comprehension
- Why does Sadiq Khan want a cap on robotaxis?
- Which company began limited rides with Wayve's cars in September?
- Where in London are about 24 Apollo Go vehicles being tested?
- What can TfL do now regarding fully autonomous vehicles?
- Why does Khan say the rollout in London must be careful?
Grammar focus
Future perfect continuous
Use will have been + verb-ing for an activity continuing up to a future time point. Cues: by/when + future point; for + duration. Example form: will have been testing. (Examples constructed.)
- By pilot launch, operators will have been testing for months.
- When services begin, safety teams will have been checking routes for weeks.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the future perfect continuous form.
- By the rollout, companies (operate) ___ robotaxis for months.
- When services start, safety teams (review) ___ data for weeks.
- By launch day, a driver (sit) ___ ready for hours.
- By the first trials, riders (wait) ___ for rides for hours.
- When trials expand, operators (adjust) ___ plans for some time.
Discussion
- Should London limit robotaxi numbers at the start? Why or why not?
- Who gains and who loses if robotaxis expand quickly?
- What rules would make you feel safe using a robotaxi?
- How could cities reduce congestion as new tech arrives?
Vocabulary, reading, and exercises with instant feedback
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