Uber is ruled lawful by High Court

Uber online cab-hailing app does not break the law, the High Court has ruled.

Transport for London (TfL) went to court for judicial clarification, where Mr Justice Ouseley ruled that the app operates differently to a taximeter, and handed Uber much needed victory.

Uber said: “Now the high court has ruled in favour of new technology, we hope Transport for London will think again on their bureaucratic proposals for apps like Uber. It is a victory for common sense and it is the future, and they should embrace technology”.

TfL said : “Disruptive technology and new business models have radically changed the way that taxi and private hire services operate and has widened customer choice. This is welcome.”

Black cab drivers had argued that by using GPS signals to calculate the cost of a journey, Uber was breaching a law which bans private cars from being equipped with taximeters.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said: “The law really is an ass” and an appeal is being planned.

Cab drivers claim it is unfair that Uber drivers can operate a taximeter style charging system without having to undergo the rigorous licensing process which black cab drivers must go through.

Drivers say the app poses a risk to public safety and customer being overcharged, with no opportunity to challenge fares before the money is automatically taken from their bank accounts.

Around one million people in London are signed up to the Uber service, which has 18,000 drivers.