A massive 85% of private hire drivers fear race riots will hit the streets of the UK again this summer, a GMB survey shows.
In the poll, answered by almost 400 drivers, 85% said they believe riots or similar acts of violence may happen again this year.
Drivers were worried future violence would impact their families (77%) and their livelihoods (82%)
Results from the survey will be delivered to GMB’s annual congress in Brighton today.
Almost half (46%) said they were hit by the riots last summer, either directly or indirectly.
Drivers described being threatened with knives and machetes, racially abused and having stones thrown at their cars.
Many reported being too scared to work, while one said they carried a baseball bat in their car to ward off attackers.
One said it was ‘just heartbreaking to witness humanity at its worst’.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB National Officer, said, “These terrifying survey results show our private hire drivers were on the frontline of last year’s riots
And terrifyingly a huge majority fear they may happen again this summer.
“When it comes to health, wealth and opportunity the UK is already island of strangers.
“We cannot continue to tolerate divisions that come from being a hugely unequal society.
“Class is what is driving people apart, not race or ethnicity.”
