Transport for London seeks injunction in Addison Lee bus lanes dispute

Transport for London has applied to the High Court for an interim injunction requiring minicab company Addison Lee to withdraw a letter that encouraged its drivers to use bus lanes in London.

The move was confirmed by Leon Daniels, TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport. The case will be heard on Monday 23 April.

Addison Lee’s chairman, John Griffin, wrote to the company’s 3,500 drivers to say it would indemnify them from any fines or payments that resulted from their actions.

A judicial review of the bus lane legislation is expected to take place later this year.

Griffin argued that the legislation was anticompetitive and unfairly discriminated against passengers that used the company. 

“Minicabs perform the same function as Black Taxis and are licensed by the same authority, so there is no reason that they should be penalised due to outdated legislation,” he insisted.

In response, TfL warned drivers they faced personal criminal prosecution if they broke traffic regulations. It also said they could end up losing their PHV drivers’ licences if they did so repeatedly.