Addison Lee ordered to stop encouraging minicab drivers to use London bus lanes

26/04/12

Mr Justice Eder today granted an interim injunction restraining Addison Lee, Europe's largest minicab firm, and its founder and Chairman John Griffin, from encouraging their drivers to use bus lanes marked for use by 'taxis'.

Addison Lee is challenging the bus lane regulations as contrary to EU law. On 14 April it issued a notice to its 3,500 drivers informing them that, by virtue of EU law, they were entitled to use bus lanes in the same way as black cabs and offering to indemnify them in respect of fines and other liabilities incurred for doing so.

Transport for London sought interim injunctive relief. The court held that Addison Lee was entitled to decide to pay drivers' fines, but could not take a decision whether to do so until after the fine or liability had been incurred. It granted a declaration to that effect.

The court accepted undertakings from Addison Lee that it would not instruct drivers to use bus lanes and heard argument on the question whether it should go on to restrain it from 'encouraging' acts which it claimed were not criminal on a proper interpretation of EU law.

After argument, Transport for London were required to give an undertaking in damages.

The judgment is here.