DRUG DRIVING CABBIE AVOIDS JAIL AFTER MOTORWAY CRASH INJURES PASSENGER

A cabbie has escaped immediate prison time after a drug-fuelled crash on the M6 left his passenger hospitalised.

Jake Bland, 36, of Burton-in-Lonsdale, was handed a suspended sentence following the collision, which court records attributed to the defendant’s "bad driving."

The incident occurred on the M6 northbound on July 2, 2025. Police stopped Bland in his Kia Ceed and found he had more than three times the legal limit of Benzoylecgonine - a major byproduct of cocaine - in his system, registering 167 micrograms against the legal limit of 50.

Court records noted that Bland had driven a "significant distance" with the passenger before the crash occurred.

The court also heard that Bland was caught in a separate incident on February 6 of this year, where he was found in charge of his vehicle while double the drink-driving limit at a school car park in Kirkby Lonsdale. Bland pleaded guilty to providing a breath reading of 70 micrograms of alcohol, well over the 35-microgram legal limit.

At South Cumbria Magistrates' Court, Bland was given a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, he must complete 120 days of alcohol and abstinence monitoring, and he was ordered to pay £700 in court costs alongside a £154 victim surcharge.

Read another story

BRISTOL COUNCILLORS UNDER FIRE FOR LETTING LAW-BREAKING TAXI DRIVERS STAY ON THE ROAD

An analysis of 137 pages of newly published committee minutes by the Local Democracy Reporting Service reveals that the local authority regularly takes a lenient approach.

SEFTON INUNDATED WITH TAXI APPLICATIONS AS OUT OF BOROUGH DRIVERS SURGE

At a recent Licensing and Regulatory Committee meeting, principal licensing officer Mark Toohey revealed that around 50 new drivers are applying every single week.

BRADFORD PH BOSS LOSES LICENCE AFTER HOUSE CONVERTED INTO £210,000 CANNABIS FARM

The decision was made by Bradford Council’s licensing panel following a police raid that uncovered a sophisticated illegal drug cultivation setup inside the house.

HERO ELY CABBIE HONOURED AFTER SAVING ELDERLY PASSENGER FROM £3,000 SCAM

Bridget Farley-Smith picked up the distressed woman but sensing something was wrong, Bridget chatted with her passenger, who revealed she was on her way to the bank to withdraw £3,000 in cash.

BARNSLEY TAXI CCTV SCHEME SET FOR EXPANSION AFTER SURGE IN SAFETY AND NIGHT SHIFTS

Following a highly successful pilot programme that installed cameras in all hackney carriages, council bosses are now looking to roll out the security systems to an additional 50 private hire vehicles.

YORK TAXI BOSSES DEMAND URGENT HELP AS STATION GATEWAY WORKS HIT DRIVERS FINANCIALLY

The York City Taxi Association has called for urgent action, warning that the construction of the York Station Gateway project has "substantially" impacted local hackney carriage drivers.

POLICE RELEASE CCTV IMAGES IN HUNT FOR WOMAN AFTER DONCASTER TAXI DRIVER RACIALLY ABUSED

The incident took place at 3:15am on Sunday, May 24, 2026, while the taxi was stationary outside the Red Lion pub in Market Place.

DONCASTER TAXI POLICY FACES MAJOR OVERHAUL AFTER PUBLIC BACKS BAN ON INSURANCE WRITE-OFFS

The move follows a 12-week public consultation that drew 545 responses, consisting of 53.4% taxi drivers, 44% members of the public, and 2.6% other respondents.

TAKEME GROUP WELCOMES YORK CITY TAXIS TO THE NETWORK

TakeMe Group has announced that it is pleased to welcome York City Taxis into the TakeMe network, a long-established and highly respected business based at York Station, operating around 50 vehicles.

VEEZU DRIVER PARTNERS FUMING AT NEW UNCAPPED 20 PER CENT ACCESS FEE

One angry Shrewsbury driver told PHTM: "From 22 June Veezu are removing the booking fee entirely and transitioning to a fixed 20% access fee without any consultation with us .

PLANNERS HAVE THREE YEARS TO SHAPE DRIVERLESS TRANSPORT OR MARKETS WILL MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEM

This year’s robotaxi launch will put the UK among the world’s most competitive driverless-vehicle markets, behind only the US, China and the United Arab Emirates.

STROUD TAXI FARES SET TO RISE THIS JULY UNDER NEW COUNCIL PLANS

Stroud District Council has announced plans to increase rates across three different time bands, affecting daytime trips, evening journeys, and bank holiday travel.

OXFORD KNIFEMAN SPARED JAIL AFTER APPALLING ATTACK ON CABBIE

Donnelle Ochiela, 28, was handed a suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court after admitting to threatening a person with a knife.

LONDON POLITICIANS TRIAL DRIVERLESS TAXIS IN ISLINGTON AND CALL THE RIDE "REALLY QUITE DULL"

ondon Assembly Members have launched an investigation into the capital's readiness for "robotaxis" after taking a 15-minute test drive in a self-driving cab in Islington.

BARNSLEY COUNCIL LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN TO STOP ROGUE PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS

The crackdown comes after growing concerns over "vehicle and driver non-compliance" with both national and local regulations.

DATA REVEALS OVER 30 SEXUAL OFFENCES ALLEGED AGAINST DORSET CABBIES BUT ONLY FIVE CHARGED

Shocking new data obtained through a Freedom of Information request has revealed that 35 sexual offences were reported against taxi or private hire drivers in Dorset between 2022 and 2025.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES PUBLIC CONSULTATION TO SET HIGH SAFETY BAR FOR SELF DRIVING VEHICLES

Running until 9 September 2026, the joint initiative by DfT and Centre for Connected and AVs invites input from the public, industry experts, road safety and accessibility groups and councils.

PHD TUTOR TURNED UBER DRIVER JAILED AFTER £300,000 UNIVERSITY CHEATING SCAM UNCOVERED

Shahid Adnan, 43, used his business, Study Sharp Ltd, to sit exams and submit coursework on behalf of students across approximately ten UK universities.

BOSTON TAXI FARE HIKE HALTED OVER CONCERNS FOR DISABLED AND ELDERLY RESIDENTS

The Boston Hackney Carriage Association (BHCA) proposed the increases to combat rising fuel, staff, and insurance costs, noting that maximum fares have not changed since August 2022.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL BLASTS INSANE £819M TAXI BILL CLAIM AS SIMPLE TYPING ERROR