Daily obstacle course of London road network, causing ‘hypervigilance’ and strain on taxi drivers, says trade rep
London’s streets, once familiar terrain for seasoned cabbies, have become a daily obstacle course, causing ‘hypervigilance’ and strain on drivers, says Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) Chairman Paul Brennan.
Speaking candidly, Brennan recalled a time when the capital’s road network could be managed with little more than memory and muscle memory. The odd pothole or sporadic downpour may have required some focus, but for the most part, drivers operated with ease. That era, he says, is long gone.
Today, drivers are forced into a constant state of alert. What used to be once-in-a-decade snowstorms that tested stamina have been replaced by daily pressure. Closed roads, ever-changing layouts, 20mph zones, camera-controlled junctions, and newly imposed restrictions have made what was a skilled profession feel more like a survival exercise.
Brennan recently compared notes with London’s bus drivers, highlighting the shared challenges. While the bus network avoids some enforcement headaches—like box junction fines or U-turns in tight spaces—the pressure is still keenly felt. Cabbies and bus operators alike are forced to navigate chaos while avoiding collisions with cyclists, scooters, and the next new restriction.
The situation is said to be taking its toll. Brennan argues that while the cost of running a compliant taxi is often cited as the main reason drivers are leaving the trade, it’s the mental fatigue that’s tipping the balance. Eight to twelve-hour shifts spent in a heightened state of vigilance are neither healthy nor sustainable.
There’s concern that a single mistake could lead to a penalty that wipes out a day’s earnings—or worse, the loss of a licence and livelihood. With new powers handed to local councils to increase penalty charges, the financial risk is climbing.
Brennan said in TAXI Newspaper: “There was a time, not even that around London was a joy. Sure, it had its bad moments, but on the whole, I could drive around for weeks almost on autopilot, and my only concern was remembering the pothole or random blockage that had been there since flares were all the rage in town.
“The only times I had to switch off my autopilot and really engage were probably during the monthly large roller-skate event on (I think) the last Friday of the month in Central London or during a very heavy downpour. And despite the fact that people think it rains a lot in London, it really doesn’t.
“The only times you had to be hypervigilant and in a constant state of pure adrenaline were during the once-in-a-decade snowstorms that left London’s roads as slippery as a fresh eel from Billingsgate. And boy, did you know you’d been through the mill when you got home! Thoroughly exhausted, you’d jump into bed and be snoring loudly before your head even hit the pillow.
“Hypervigilance is defined as “a heightened fear of potential danger, even perhaps when there’s no actual immediate risk”. It can be a survival mechanism, but it can also be extremely exhausting.
“Now, that usual once-in-a-decade event of being in a constant state of hypervigilance is a daily occurrence for anyone who needs to drive for a living in London. We grapple daily with closed roads, new road layouts or trying desperately not to creep over the speed limit in the ever increasing 20mph zones.
“I was recently at an event with a few bus drivers, where we had a bit of a tennis match about all the hazards we now deal with. I pointed out how they never seem to get done for speeding or get fined for blocking a box junction. And, of course, they don’t need to do a U-turn in the Aldwych or read the ever-increasing road signs when another bus gate springs up in Hackney.
“I think it’s fair to say that I won 6-1 during that match with the bus drivers. That said, they did highlight how the pressure to keep to timetables in manufactured congestion, combined with the need to be constantly vigilant against cyclists and scooter riders, who pay no regard to their own safety — another issue which we must also deal with—is having a detrimental impact on them.
“So, while many believe that drivers are leaving the trade in droves because the vehicle is too expensive (it is, and they are), for many others, the reason is the strain of working eight, ten, or 12 hours a day in a constant state of fight or flight.
“It just isn’t sustainable. It’s a massive drain on our mental health. This must be addressed by City Hall and TfL, if you ask me, they have a duty to ensure that we too can go to work without the need to be in a near constant state of hypervigilance.
“Who would want to go to work every day knowing that one simple or silly mistake could, if you’re lucky, result in half a day’s takings flying out the window to pay a PCN? This of course, now looks set to become even higher, with councils given the go-ahead to hike up the fines. Or worse, you lose your licence, and with it, your livelihood and everything that goes along with that.”
