NEWS RELEASE

Britain cautious but curious about imminent arrival of driverless taxis on our roads

• 67% of Britons have heard of robotaxis – 33% have not
• 40% fear robotaxis will increase road accidents – just 14% think they will make roads safer
• 70% want robotaxis to be fully accessible
• 42% oppose flexible pricing – just 18% support

A new survey of 1540 adults (over 16) across Great Britain finds that while public awareness of robotaxis – self-driving taxis with no human driver – is high, attitudes remain cautious and a clear majority want government and regulators to act before autonomous taxi services are allowed to scale up.

The findings come as several companies, including Wayve and Waymo, prepare to launch driverless services in London this year.

About the survey

A new paper by Fortia Insight’s Director of Transport Economics John Siraut draws on BMG Research’s March 2026 national omnibus survey of 1540 over-16-year-olds in Great Britain. It explored awareness of robotaxis, expected effects on transport, roads and society, views on accessibility requirements and attitudes to flexible pricing. Where relevant, findings are broken down by gender, age and region. Both Fortia Insight and BMG Research are RSK Group companies.

BMG’s Simon Wood said: “Most people in Britain have now heard of robotaxis, but hearing of something and understanding its consequences are very different things. Our survey suggests the public is still making up its mind – and that decisions taken now by government will shape whether this technology is welcomed or resisted.”

Awareness: A technology people have heard of, but many know little about

The survey found that robotaxis have entered public consciousness in Britain. Some 25% of respondents said they were “very knowledgeable” or “somewhat knowledgeable” about the technology (R1), while 43% had heard of them but knew little and only 33% said they knew nothing at all.

Awareness was markedly higher among men than women – a pattern consistent with broader research on attitudes to autonomous vehicles – and among younger age groups, with knowledge declining noticeably among those aged over 35.

London is on the brink of the biggest shake‑up of its taxi and private‑hire market in a generation but new national polling shows the public has concerns over pricing and accessibility.

Public have strong views on pricing and accessibility

The survey highlights the public’s concern about accessibility (R4) and pricing (R5). The survey delivers its most decisive verdict on accessibility: 70.2% of adults say robotaxis must be fully accessible, including wheelchair ramps and audio/visual navigation support. Only 11.5% consider accessibility unimportant. This mandate is consistent across every age group, from young adults to older Londoners.

The survey also shows that 41.8% of the public oppose flexible, surge‑style pricing, with only 18.2% in support, a net support rating of -23.6%. However, there is a clear generational difference, with older age groups strongly opposed while Gen Z is slightly in favour.

Net support (those in favour minus those opposed) for flexible pricing

Impacts: Congestion, public transport and road safety dominate public concerns

When asked how robotaxis would affect a range of issues (R3), respondents had clear concerns. The clearest findings were:

• Traffic congestion: 25% expect robotaxis to increase congestion compared to 8% who think that they will diminish congestion. This is consistent with evidence from US cities, where ride-hailing growth has been linked to increased vehicle miles and slower bus journeys, and with the fact that autonomous vehicles typically run empty 30–40% of the time while repositioning between fares.
• Public transport: 20% believe robotaxis will draw passengers away from buses and trains, compared to 9% who believe the opposite – a concern backed by US research suggesting up to half of ride-hailing trips replace public or active travel rather than private car journeys.
• Traditional taxis: 43% expect conventional taxi use to fall. London’s black taxi fleet has already shrunk from 22,445 vehicles in 2009/10 to 14,570 in 2024/25; respondents appear to anticipate further disruption.
• Road safety: only 13% expect the number of road accidents to fall, while 40% fear they will rise. Early deployments overseas have exposed real reliability challenges, including unexpected braking, difficulties navigating roadworks and incidents involving emergency vehicles.
• Cost of travel: only 9% expect robotaxis to reduce travel costs compared to 31% who think they will lead to higher charges, although this is likely to depend heavily on whether operators are permitted to use surge pricing.
• Children walking to school: 12% think robotaxis will reduce the number of children making active journeys to school – a finding with implications for public health, as well as congestion.

These findings point to a strong public expectation that robotaxis will reshape urban transport in ways that are not uniformly positive. They underline the need for regulatory frameworks that can manage congestion, protect public transport and ensure robotaxi operations do not undermine active travel.

Siraut said: “The public’s instinct that robotaxis will worsen congestion and pull passengers off buses deserves to be taken seriously. Evidence from the United States shows these are not irrational fears. New York is a cautionary tale: ride-hailing apps were once expected to reduce car use but instead they have grown the combined taxi/private hire market by around 50%, increasing congestion. Policymakers need to get ahead of this.”

The regulatory challenge: Pricing, priority and public protection

The survey results on congestion, public transport and cost (R3) highlight the importance of getting the regulatory framework right before robotaxis scale up. Under current rules, taxis operate to a fixed tariff, cannot refuse a fare and must be fully accessible. Private-hire vehicles – and potentially robotaxis – face fewer obligations, including the freedom to apply surge pricing and decline certain journeys.

If robotaxis are regulated as private-hire vehicles rather than taxis, some of the public’s fears about cost and equity may be realised. Policymakers face pressure to consider operational caps and kerbside controls to manage congestion, clear data-sharing obligations with transport authorities, liability and cybersecurity standards and restrictions on surge pricing or requirements for fare transparency. The survey results provide an evidence base for action: public concern about congestion (R3) and accessibility (R4) suggests there is broad public support for a more interventionist approach.

Siraut added: “London and other UK cities have a window of opportunity that San Francisco and Phoenix did not: the chance to set the rules before robotaxis arrive at scale, rather than scrambling to catch up. Our survey shows the public want that to happen. Technology without regulation is just disruption with better branding, and in London’s taxi market, that could mean fares moving in mysterious ways, disabled passengers left on the kerb and a potentially futile quest to persuade an algorithm to take you south of the river on a wet, windy night.”

The way forward

In short, a public debate is urgently needed as to whether London

• introduces fixed or capped tariffs for robotaxis
• mandates full accessibility as a condition of licensing at least matching London’s taxi standards
• ensures operators cannot refuse trips, particularly to low‑income or low‑demand areas before large‑scale roll-out occurs.

Notes to editors

About BMG Research

BMG Research specialises in delivering impactful insights to inform decision-making, shape policies and guide investments. Primarily based in the UK, the business works closely with clients to help them navigate complex challenges, set strategic priorities and assess the effectiveness of change.

The company is proud to play its part in fostering better public services, enhancing customer experiences and contributing to a fair and equitable society. We leverage our extensive subject knowledge and methodological expertise, combining these with cutting-edge analytics to create tailored solutions for each of our clients.

BMG’s diverse portfolio includes partnerships with major government departments, local authorities, charities, regulators, housing associations and utility companies, working in a wide variety of sectors.

Our research spans a broad spectrum of topics, from crime and justice to health policy, media use and industrial policy. We efficiently and effectively deliver both qualitative and quantitative insights, including official statistics, to meet the unique needs of our clients.

About Fortia Insight

Fortia Insight is a leading independent research and consulting firm specialising in economic, social and environmental development. Our teams comprise experienced economists, researchers, data analysts and evaluation specialists, many of whom have worked together for over 15 years, delivering insight-led solutions to complex policy and investment challenges.

Our mission is to deliver independent, data-driven insight that helps clients navigate complexity, make informed decisions and contribute to sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes. We combine analytical rigour, innovative thinking and a commitment to public value to support evidence-based policy and strategy.

Survey methodology

The robotaxi questions were included in the March wave of the omnibus survey, which was conducted using an online panel methodology with adults aged 16+ across Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). A total of 1540 respondents completed the survey during the fieldwork period of 25–26 March. Quotas were applied at the sampling stage to ensure a balanced distribution of key demographic groups. After fieldwork, the data was weighted to be representative of the 16+ population of Great Britian by demographics such as age, gender, region, ethnicity, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quartile and education, to ensure findings reflect the national profile.

Survey questions referenced in this release

R1: Awareness of robotaxis (very/somewhat knowledgeable; heard of but know little; don’t know anything)

R2: Open question – what respondents associate with robotaxis (those aware at R1)

R3: Expected impact on congestion, traditional taxis, public transport, private cars, road accidents, travel costs, children walking to school

R4: Importance of full accessibility (wheelchair access; audio/visual navigation support)

R5: Support or opposition to flexible/surge pricing for robotaxi services