Posted on the 16th December 2025 in PHTM News

EDINBURGH CABBIE WHO HIT PEDESTRIAN WHILE BEATING RED LIGHT ALLOWED TO KEEP LICENCE

An Edinburgh taxi driver who struck a pedestrian, causing a fractured foot, has been allowed to keep his licence despite pleading guilty to careless and inconsiderate driving.

Adel Amrouche appeared before a City of Edinburgh Council licensing meeting on Monday, December 15, after Police Scotland flagged a collision that occurred on St John’s Road in Corstorphine in March 2024 as part of his licence renewal application.

The incident saw Mr Amrouche hit a young man who was crossing the road with the green man signal. The cab’s wing mirror struck the victim’s arm, flew off the cab, and the man suffered a fracture to his foot and grazing to his leg after landing on the ground.

A police report presented to councillors stated that Mr Amrouche "had crossed a red traffic signal when he hit the man" and noted that witnesses reported the cabbie "thought the victim was to blame."

Mr Amrouche subsequently "pleaded guilty to careless and inconsiderate driving" at a hearing in September and received five penalty points on his personal driving licence.

Mr Amrouche’s solicitor, Jonny Nisbet, described the incident as "unfortunate" and a "one-off occurrence" in his client’s twenty years of driving in the Capital.

Mr Nisbet explained that his client, who was on the clock at the time, lacked a "clear view of the crossing due to a bus in the left lane." While disputing the colour of the light, Mr Amrouche admitted to a lapse in judgement.

“He can’t recall going through a red light. And certainly not deliberately,” Mr Nisbet told the committee. “But he will admit that he thought he could make it through the light. The bus obscured his view somewhat. 

"He would accept that this was poor judgement on his part.”

The solicitor added that Mr Amrouche thought he could "get through" the light and believed the victim was unharmed, noting he had seen a video showing the young man standing upright after the collision.

The cabbie stopped after the crash to exchange details with the victim’s father.

Councillors ultimately elected to renew Mr Amrouche’s taxi licence but stipulated that a written warning be placed on his file due to the incident.

He is also scheduled to undergo a refresher training course in January.


Read another story