Uber’s feud with government bodies across the globe never ends with the ride-hailing service company now taking legal action to stop Transport for London’s (TfL) new regulations.
Sky News reports that the firm is challenging the legality of several new rules imposed by the transport regulator, including one that will force drivers from non-English countries to pass a written language exam.
The company is also opposing tougher rules requiring drivers to have commercial insurance policies even if they are using their cars for private purposes.
Uber warns that part-time drivers could lose an average of £350 a year due to the new rules on commercial insurance, according to the
Sky News report.
Uber has also objected plans that would require taxi firms to operate a customer call centre in London. It is also questioning rules compelling the company to notify TfL of any upcoming changes to the popular cab-hailing app.
"This legal action is very much a last resort," Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber London, was quoted as saying in a
BBC report.
"We're particularly disappointed that, after a lengthy consultation process with Transport for London, the goalposts have moved at the last minute and new rules are now being introduced that will be bad for both drivers and tech companies like Uber."
BBC also reports that TfL has received a letter from Uber and that it is ready to face the company in court.
“We responded to Uber's letter and will be robustly defending the legal proceedings brought by them in relation to the changes to private-hire regulations,” the government body said in a statement.
According to
BBC, Uber has 30,000 drivers in London and that the new rules will affect thousands of its workers.
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