Image: Ralf Roletschek 

Local authorities are being pressed to account in detail for the financial, staffing and enforcement consequences of a proposed overhaul of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, under a consultation launched by the Department for Transport that could reshape how the sector is regulated in England.

The consultation, which opened on 8 January and runs until 1 April 2026, examines whether responsibility for taxi and private hire licensing should be transferred from the current patchwork of district, unitary and metropolitan councils to local transport authorities. If implemented, the change would reduce the number of licensing authorities from 263 to around 70, aligning licensing with the same bodies responsible for producing statutory local transport plans.

Ministers argue that the current structure, rooted in legislation dating back to the mid nineteenth century, no longer reflects modern travel patterns or the way taxi and private hire services operate. Passengers routinely cross council boundaries for work, education and leisure, while drivers and operators increasingly licence in areas other than where they predominantly work. The Government says this “out of area” working complicates enforcement and creates incentives for drivers to seek licences based on cost or speed rather than local accountability.

Source: TaxiPoint

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is inviting public input on the U.S. government’s position regarding United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) draft Global Technical Regulation (GTR) for Automated Driving Systems (ADS), in preparation for a UN working group vote this June.

NHTSA welcomes comments on the draft regulation’s technical feasibility, how well it aligns with U.S. safety standards (FMVSS), its impact on innovation within the country, and any relevant technical, scientific, or economic evidence that either supports or questions the regulation. The draft regulation outlines these areas in detail which include:

• General Requirements for ADS-equipped vehicles: including requirements for the ADS to perform the Dynamic Driving Task, or DDT;
• The safety of interactions between the User and ADS;
• Manufacturer requirements, including the overall Safety Management System under which the ADS was developed;
• The testing system and environment that the manufacturer used to qualify the safe operation of the ADS;
• Requirements for the submission of a valid Safety Case for the ADS; and
• Post-deployment monitoring capabilities.

For those interested in reviewing the draft regulations they can found by clicking here. 

Comments can be submitted here before the February 23^rd deadline.

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Commerce Committee Advances Trump Transportation Nominees

The Senate Commerce Committee easily approved nominees for senior transportation roles in the Trump administration on Feb. 3. The Republican-led Senate will be next to consider the nominees who, if confirmed, would join Secretary Sean Duffy’s leadership team at the Department of Transportation. These nominees include Ryan McCormack to serve as undersecretary of transportation for policy.

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Trump Administration Sued over Cutting Off Funds for $16 Billion Tunnel

The agency overseeing construction of a $16 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River sued the federal government on Monday for cutting off the project’s funding and leaving it without enough money to keep building beyond this week. The agency, the Gateway Development Commission, filed suit in federal court in Washington against the United States for withholding $205 million in payments for work on the tunnel, which would connect New York and New Jersey. 

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Driving Transactions and Chauffeur Driven Partner for Ongoing Industry Survey

Chauffeur Driven and industry strategic consulting firm Driving Transactions are proud to continue their ongoing collaboration to compile, analyze, and report on real-time industry trends. Following the strong response to their first industry survey, the pair is conducting its Q1 2026 research study, part of a continuing effort to capture and share a snapshot of the industry. 

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How Transport Canada’s Latest Moves Could Lower Auto Premiums

Cars are still too easy to steal, and those high theft rates increase insurance costs for Canadian drivers. That’s led to new vehicle safety rules from Transport Canada, some of which are designed to improve anti-theft standards for new vehicles.

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BYD Is Approved by Transport Canada to Sell EVs in Canada as Tariffs Drop

BYD has secured regulatory approval to sell passenger electric vehicles in Canada, positioning the Chinese automaker to enter the market as Ottawa prepares to implement a new tariff-quota system allowing limited imports of Chinese EVs at reduced duty rates.

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Halifax's Taxi Versus Rideshare Rules Gap: Are the Low-Paying Jobs Worth Harming Local Businesses?

Todd Hardiman knows the taxi business. His dad and uncle worked in the industry in the 1970s. Hardiman himself followed in his family’s footsteps, joining Casino Taxi as an owner-operator in 1999 as a full-time job to provide for his young family.

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UK Pilot Increases Shared Micromobility Use Amongst Disabled People

A UK pilot project has found that targeted training can lead to greater uptake of shared micromobility among disabled people. The year-long initiative, held in Salford, Greater Manchester, delivered 15 training sessions to 41 participants. It was led by shared transport charity CoMoUK, funded by the Motability Foundation and delivered by Cycling UK, in partnership with local operators Lime and Beryl, as well as Transport for Greater Manchester and Salford Council.

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Savings of Close to £1m Agreed in Taxi Bill for Northern Ireland Home-to-School Transport

Savings of close to £1 million have been agreed with taxi firms which provide school transport provision in Northern Ireland. The Education Authority (EA) has said the high cost of home-to-school transport costs is linked to a lack of school places for children with special educational needs (Send) in the region Concern has previously been expressed about the rising cost of transferring children to school by taxi.

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Uber vs Black Cabs: Why London’s Drivers Say the Rules Are Failing Them Both

For years, the debate over taxis in London was framed as a straightforward battle between black cabs and Ubers. But in 2026, this dichotomy feels increasingly outdated – instead of one side winning, drivers on both sides say the system is failing them.

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Air Taxis to Be Tested for Emergency Medical Response in Singapore

Aerospace manufacturer Vertical Aerospace and Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) will explore the use of air taxis for emergency medical services.

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Gocab Raises $45M to Expand Its Drive-to-Own Model Across Africa

London-based mobility fintech GoCab has closed a $45 million funding round to expand its “drive-to-own” model across emerging markets. The round includes $15 million in equity and $30 million in debt, part of a larger $60 million Shariah-compliant debt facility in the works.

The company, which launched in 2024, is on track to hit $50 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) this year.

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‘Sarathi Hi Malik’: No Commission, Full Ownership — Amit Shah Launches Bharat Taxi

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will launch India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, “Bharat Taxi,” in the national capital on Thursday. The launch aims to strengthen the cooperative sector and offer a fair and people-focused transport service.

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Image: The Economic Times

Uber said on Monday it was in talks with French social security agency Urssaf, which a media report said had ⁠concluded the U.S.-based company should treat its drivers as employees.

"We are currently engaged in a collaborative, transparent, and open discussion with France's social security body, URSSAF," an Uber ‌spokesperson said on Monday.

Urssaf told Reuters it does not comment on individual ‌cases or ongoing matters for reasons of confidentiality.

French investigative publication Revue21 reported that Urssaf considered that 71,194 drivers who worked for Uber between 2019 and 2022 on independent-contractor agreements should have been defined as employees.

The agency was seeking 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in social security contributions and a further 512 million ‌euros ‍in penalties, Revue21 added.

 

Source: The Economic Times

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