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Uber court document reveals the scale of sexual assault and dangerous driving allegations against its drivers

Jake Kanter,Jake Kanter   

Uber court document reveals the scale of sexual assault and dangerous driving allegations against its drivers
Tech2 min read

Dara Khosrowshahi

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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.

  • Uber has investigated 2,500 drivers in London over allegations including sexual assault, stalking, and dangerous driving, according to The Sunday Times.
  • The revelation came in a memo that will form part of court proceedings this week as Uber attempts to appeal the loss of its operator's licence in Britain's capital.
  • The memo also revealed that Uber used Skype to carry out medical and eye tests on at least 800 potential drivers.


Uber has investigated 2,500 drivers in London over allegations of wrongdoing, including sexual assault, stalking, and dangerous driving, according to a memo seen by The Sunday Times.

The document forms part of court proceedings this week as Uber attempts to appeal the loss of its operator's licence in Britain's capital.

Tom Elvidge, Uber's UK general manager, wrote a letter to London's transport regulator, TfL, on May 25 outlining the investigations into alleged wrongdoing.

According to The Sunday Times, he said 1,148 licensed drivers had been accused of "category A" offences, such as sexual assault. A further 1,402 drivers were probed over other allegations, including discriminatory comments and "inappropriate interpersonal conduct" towards passengers.

Uber has banned 451 London drivers and reported 58 crimes to the police, The Sunday Times said. It also revealed that Uber used Skype to carry out medical and eye tests on at least 800 potential drivers.

The disclosures are a sign that Uber is having to become more transparent about accusations made against its drivers. Among the reasons its licence was revoked last year was because TfL worried about the company's record on passenger safety, the way it vetted drivers, and its alleged history of using software to evade US regulators.

Representatives for Uber will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday to appeal the loss of its operator's licence in the capital. TfL revoked the licence last September.

The hearing is expected to continue for three days, and we won't necessarily know whether Uber has won its licence back at the end of the process. The appeal could go to a higher court.

Business Insider understands that the court isn't going to make a decision on whether TfL made the right call in September. Instead, it will decide on whether Uber is now "fit and proper" to hold a licence.

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