A London minicab driver has revealed he now works up to 100 hours a week just to earn the same wage he once did, as rising costs continue to put pressure on drivers.

Khalid Edah-Tally, 34, has been working for Addison Lee for 12 years but says he is now forced to take on longer shifts to keep up with expenses.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he warned that drivers across the capital are being pushed to their limits, with many extending night shifts until 8am or 9am—posing potential risks to both passengers and fellow motorists.

“It’s extremely difficult to make a living,” he said. “While wages have stayed the same, expenses have risen sharply.

“The cost of living has gone up, and so has the cost of doing the job. Fuel, insurance, parking—everything has increased significantly over the past five to ten years.

“Whereas before you could work 30 or 40 hours a week, now you have to work 70, 80, sometimes even 100 hours just to make the same amount.”

Edah-Tally also expressed concerns about road safety, noting that exhausted drivers are pushing themselves beyond their limits.

“Drivers are working longer and longer hours, which is making the roads unsafe,” he said. “There has been a noticeable rise in private hire vehicle accidents because drivers feel they have no choice but to extend their shifts just to earn a fair wage.”

Originally from Finchley, Edah-Tally is among hundreds of minicab drivers across the UK protesting against low pay and tough working conditions. Many plan to take part in a six-hour strike on Valentine’s Day to highlight the excessive hours they must work to stay financially afloat.

Drivers have raised concerns over some fares paying less than £1 per mile, as well as the lack of security measures to protect them from dangerous passengers.

“The ride-hailing apps sell the idea of flexibility,” Edah-Tally explained. “They claim you can choose your own hours. But in reality, as wages continue to fall, drivers are forced to work longer shifts. If you used to finish at 6am, now you’re finishing at 8am, 9am, or even later. You just never stop working.”

Driver safety is another major concern. Many feel vulnerable because there are no effective measures in place to protect them if something goes wrong during a trip.

“You never know who’s getting into your car,” he said. “There’s always a sense of fear.”

He recalled five instances where drivers he knew had been assaulted on the job. He also highlighted the tragic case of Gabriel Bringye, a minicab driver who was killed by a passenger in Tottenham in February 2021 while working for Bolt.

“There’s no proper system for reporting incidents or seeking justice,” he added. “It’s always the driver’s word against the passenger’s.

“Companies like Uber, Bolt, FreeNow, and Addison Lee consistently side with passengers. We’ve seen countless cases of drivers being attacked on the road.

“No one should feel unsafe at work—that’s a basic human right.”

In response to these issues, drivers will stage a demonstration outside London’s City Hall on Friday, with a planned motorcade running from 4pm to 10pm. Organisers hope this protest, set to take place on what is usually a lucrative night, will be a crucial step in their fight for better pay and working conditions.

A Bolt survey found that a quarter of its drivers earn at least £4,000 per month through the platform.

A Bolt spokesperson commented: “We value the essential role drivers play in keeping cities moving and strive to balance their earning potential with affordable fares for passengers.

“We are the only platform that allows drivers to set their own minimum fares and benefit from dynamic pricing based on market demand.

“All drivers receive holiday pay, pension contributions, and financial support to ensure they earn at least the national living wage. We regularly engage with drivers through surveys, community events, and forums.”

Meanwhile, an Addison Lee spokesperson stated: “We maintain a strong relationship with our drivers, which was further confirmed in our recent bi-annual driver satisfaction survey. We do not anticipate any disruptions to service on February 14th.”