ロンドン交通局、ウーバーの営業許可更新せず　安全性を問題視

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】英国の首都ロンドンの交通当局は25日、米配車サービス「ウーバー」の営業許可を、安全性とセキュリティー面での懸念を理由に更新しない決定を下した。（写真は資料写真）
　ロンドン市交通局は「ウーバーによる新たな申請を受け、同社の現地法人に新たな民間ハイヤー事業者ライセンスを付与しないという結論に達した」と発表。
　ソフトバンクが筆頭株主であるウーバーに与えられていた１５か月間有効のライセンスが、今年９月に失効。２か月間の延長が認められたものの、その条件として乗客の安全面での改善が求められていた。
　ロンドン市交通局はウーバーについて、許可のない運転手が他の運転手のアカウントを使って乗客を乗せるなど、問題にパターンが見られたと説明。
　同局は、こうした事例が少なくとも１万４０００回発生し、利用者を危険にさらしていると指摘した。ライセンスがない、あるいはライセンスの一時停止や取り消し処分となった運転手が客を乗せていたケースもあったという。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/11/26-09:00）

London's transport authority on Monday refused to renew an operating licence for the ride-hailing giant Uber because of safety and security concerns.
Transport for London (TfL) has concluded that it will not grant Uber London Limited (Uber) a new private hire operator's licence in response to its latest application, it said in a statement.
The rejection is the latest set-back to the firm's operations in London, which have been targeted by protests from traditional black cab drivers to previous licence suspensions.
In September, Uber was granted a two-month extension to its licence following the expiry of a previous 15-month agreement. The extension was conditional on passenger safety improvements.
But TfL said on Monday there were a pattern of failures, including the use of unauthorised drivers on other drivers' accounts, allowing them to pick up passengers.
The transport authority said this happened at least 14,000 times, endangering users, as it invalidated insurance. Some trips took place with unlicensed, suspended or dismissed drivers.
TfL said it recognised steps the company had taken to address such issues but was concerned about the ease with which its checks and balances could be manipulated.
Legislation allows Uber 21 days to appeal and the company can continue to operate during this time.
Helen Chapman, director of licensing, regulation and charging at TfL, said safety was its absolute top priority and the infringements were unacceptable.
It is clearly concerning that these issues arose, but it is also concerning that we cannot be confident that similar issues won't happen again in future, she added.
There was no immediate comment from Uber, which will have to demonstrate on appeal that it has put in place sufficient measures to eliminate risks to passengers.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he backed the decision. He added he recognises the decision would be unpopular but that companies need to play by the rules.
Keeping Londoners safe is my absolute number-one priority, and TfL have identified a pattern of failure by Uber that has directly put passengers' safety at risk, he said.