Uber asked its drivers in London why they use the app - here's what it found out

Uber has carried out a survey of 551 of its drivers in London to find out more about how they use the app, and why they drive for Uber.

More than one in ten (14%) of drivers who took the survey said that they drove for Uber because they couldn't find any other work. And 7% of respondents said they just drive whenever they feel like it, without following a schedule.

Over half (51%) of the Uber drivers in the survey said they have other sources of personal income.

Uber asked its London drivers what they did before they drove Ubers. 89% said they were in either full or part-time work. 6% were unemployed, 4% were students, 1% were stay at home parents, and 1% of drivers were retired.

There are other ways for Uber to get data on its drivers, though. It can also monitor how they use its app. The company says that UberX drivers (the cheapest service it offers in London) spent an average of 28 hours a week logged into the app.

Uber launched in London in 2012, and the company said last year that it has carried out 20 million trips in the city.