Image: Godofredo A. Vásquez

Robotaxi pioneers Waymo and Tesla urged Congress on Wednesday to set federal safety standards for self-driving cars, addressing the complication of differing state regulations and staying ahead of global competition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the opportunity to set the safety standard for autonomous vehicles in the U.S. and globally, Lars Moravy, vice president of vehicle engineering at Tesla, told lawmakers.

An array of state regulations presents automated vehicle companies with uncertainty, he told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, calling for a path forward that is consistent across all 50 states.

He encouraged Congress to equip NHTSA to address the realities of this new frontier to maintain America’s position in global technological development.

Waymo is an American success story, but U.S. leadership is not guaranteed, said Mauricio Pena, chief safety officer at Waymo.

“We are locked in a race with Chinese companies for the future of autonomous vehicles,” he said. “If they win this race, Chinese companies, not the U.S., will set the technical standards for the rest of the world to win.”

The U.S. needs a predictable, durable, national regulatory framework that sets a high safety standard, Mr. Pena said, or else a fragmented landscape of state regulations will foster uncertainty, slow investment and create unequal access to the technology.

Source: Washington Times

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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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Lawmakers Chase ‘Fake’ Uber Drivers while Pay Cuts Fuel a Cash Market

Last year, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law criminalizing the impersonation of a rideshare or taxi driver. The law, which took effect July 1, makes it a class-B misdemeanor to falsely present oneself as an Uber, Lyft or taxi driver. If the impersonation occurs in connection with a felony, the charge may be elevated to a class-E felony.

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Major Hospitality, Media and Sports Giants Unite to Combat Human Trafficking Ahead of Super Bowl LX

It's a Penalty  has launched its 23rd global campaign in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX, focusing on preventing human trafficking and raising awareness about its devastating impact. With a coalition of high-profile ambassadors, global organizations, and local partners, this campaign harnesses the platform of one of the world's largest sporting events to shine a spotlight on the pervasive issue of human trafficking.

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What Are the Logistics Behind Super Bowl LX?

The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) within the US.  As the Super Bowl LX nears, years worth of logistics planning is reaching its peak. From transportation providers and NFL coordination, to sponsors and vendors, to the half-time show, every part of the event is carefully slotted into place.

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Ottawa to Scrap EV Mandate as Part of National Auto Strategy: Sources

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to announce a national automotive strategy Thursday which will scrap the electric vehicle sales mandate in favour of new vehicle emissions standards and revive consumer rebates for EV purchases. Ottawa is also set to announce an EV infrastructure fund, expected to be worth $1.5 billion.

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Funding for the Relaunch of the Northlander Train in Ontario after 14 Years

The Ontario government is allocating USD 72.2 million to modernize the Northlander corridor infrastructure, which will restore passenger services on this line (also known as the Northlander train) in northeastern Ontario. Transport services were suspended in 2012.

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Uber’s European Rival Bolt Launches Rideshare App in Canada

Bolt Technology OU, the Estonia-based rival to Uber Technologies Inc., is recruiting drivers for new ridehailing services in major Canadian cities, extending a recent push into the North American market. Bolt, which offers ridehailing, food delivery and scooter rentals in more than 45 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, is doing business under the app name “Hopp” in the US and Canada, according to terms and conditions on its website.

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Government Considers Making Helmets Compulsory for Cyclists in Ireland

The Government is considering making helmets compulsory for cyclists in the Republic of Ireland and may do so claiming crashes involving e-scooter users are increasing concerns around all micromobility device users.

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Bolt Joins PAVE Europe to Engage in Autonomous Vehicle Policy and Education

According to a recent LinkedIn post from Bolt, the company has become a member of PAVE Europe (Partners for Automated Vehicle Education), a coalition focused on educating the public and policymakers about automated vehicle (AV) technologies. The post cites comments from Bolt’s President and Head of Autonomous Driving, Jevgeni Kabanov, suggesting that autonomous vehicles are expected to fundamentally change urban mobility and that success in Europe will depend on public trust, clear regulation, and operators with deep understanding of European cities.

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Loughborough Taxi Drivers Face Financial Strain as New Vehicle Rules Approved

Charnwood Borough Council has pushed through strict new regulations for Loughborough’s black cabs, sparking fears that the cost of upgrading vehicles could force some cabbies off the road. Approved on Tuesday, February 3, the policy aims to cut pollution by requiring all taxis to be newer models, despite a survey showing that over half of local drivers and residents opposed the plan.

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Smart Apps Drive Ajman Taxi Bookings Passed 1.4 Million in 2025

Ajman Transport Authority recorded a sharp rise in taxi demand through smart booking channels in 2025, with total requests surpassing 1.4 million across digital platforms and call centre services. According to official figures, taxi requests reached 1,412,019 during the year. The majority 1,351,094 bookings were placed through smart applications, including Careem, Uber and Yango, along with other integrated mobility platforms.

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“Uber in Macau” – How Do Ride-Hailing Platforms Operate amid an Unclear Legal Framework?

With Uber announcing its return to Macau, discussions about “ride-hailing taxis” have resurfaced. In fact, at least two companies in Macau are already providing services that allow passengers to book taxis via mobile apps, websites or online platforms. However, since Macau has not yet established a legal framework specifically for “ride-hailing taxis”, public attention remains focused on issues such as platform pricing, operating models and legality.

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Kenya Airports Authority Opens Bids for Nationwide Modernization Plan

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has announced a major push to upgrade airports across the country, aiming to modernize facilities and improve service delivery for passengers. The program, as announced in a tender notice on February 3, 2026, will focus on major hubs including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa, and Kisumu International Airport (KIA), alongside smaller regional airports.

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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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