ADCU pickets Uber’s London HQ in protest against Trip Radar feature
App drivers and couriers union ADCU staged a protest outside Uber’s London headquarters today, voicing strong opposition to the platform’s Trip Radar feature. The union argues that the function compromises safety and makes it harder for drivers to earn a sustainable income.
Trip Radar allows multiple drivers to compete for the same fare, but ADCU claims it forces drivers to interact with their phones while driving, heightening accident risks. The union also says it pushes drivers into unprofitable trips, sending them far from high-demand areas or locking them into low-paying fares.
Also their issue with Trip Radar, the union also used the protest to demand an end to what it calls “instant dismissals.” Under Uber’s current policy, drivers can be deactivated immediately if a passenger makes a complaint, with no opportunity for representation or appeal. ADCU says this leaves its 10,000 members in constant fear of losing their livelihoods without warning.
Zamur Dreni, ADCU General Secretary, said: "Trip Radar encourages drivers to engage with their phones while they are driving, putting drivers, passengers and all road users at risk."
"It also impacts ADCU members’ financial wellbeing by forcing them to take jobs miles away for relatively low fares, or sending them to areas where the demand for fares is too low to be financially viable. There’s also no clarity from Uber on where liability lies in the event of an accident, which places drivers at risk of litigation."
