A taxi driver who caused the death of another motorist in a road-rage race has been jailed for three and a half years by a judge at Leeds Crown Court.

Mohammed Zaman died when he crashed his car in a race with Yasir Qadoos, 41, in Dewsbury on 13 June 2019.

Mr Zaman overtook Qadoos on Overthorpe Road angering the taxi driver, who was captured saying in Urdu: "I get crazy if someone overtakes me."

Qadoos admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

The two men sped along Thornhill Road, at times reaching twice the speed limit and making "highly dangerous undertaking manoeuvres", the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

But within 30 seconds, Mr Zaman lost control of his vehicle and crashed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The events were captured on CCTV and dashcam footage recovered from Qadoos's taxi, in which he was also heard sounding his horn aggressively.

Qadoos, of Ravenshouse Rd, was also handed a five-year driving ban after pleading guilty to the offence in a previous court hearing.

Jonathan Sharp, from the CPS, said the pair's "actions clearly posed considerable risk both to themselves and other road users".

"Yasir Qadoos had ample opportunity to disengage from the race by simply pulling over. But he did not.

"Displaying reckless stupidity, he chose instead to continue driving aggressively and at high speed, not only causing danger to other road users but also being a cause of the death of Mohammed Zaman.

"As a result, a life has been cut tragically short and Qadoos is now beginning a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence."

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-50017699

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Hundreds of taxi drivers watched as a local authority agreed to support legal action against Uber.

At a Medway Council meeting last night at the St George's Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham, it was unanimously agreed steps to remove the app driven taxi service would continue.

A motion suggested by Cllr Dan McDonald (Lab) was passed by both sides of the chamber in front of a public gallery filled with drivers from cab firms across the Towns.

This followed a council-funded legal investigation into whether the cab-hailing service could legally operate in Medway, after a motion was passed by Cllr McDonald in April.

The report stated Uber would have a case to answer in court.

Currently, the digital giant works in the Towns under a ‘Greater London’ licence issued by Transport for London.

But the Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (MLTDA) has questioned whether this is lawful.

Medway taxi drivers call for Uber to be banned

Cllr McDonald said: "Taxi drivers are seeing their profession being decimated daily.

"I pay tribute to MLTDA for their evidence, patience and passion.

"Medway licensed cabs are fighting back but the council need to support them.

"They are solid and dependable, if you don’t support them, an honest service will die and Uber will put their prices up overnight.

"Mr Mayor, let's make history tonight to truly show our support to Medway taxi drivers."

This received rapturous applause from the audience.

The council's support means it will back - including financially - any moves to challenge Uber if the matter goes to court.

Cllr Jane Chitty (Con) also worked on the motion.

The portfolio holder for planning, economic growth and regulation said: "It’s been incredible complex.

"There is no legal precedent for action like this.

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A taxi driver who spat at and allegedly punched a female passenger has had his licence taken away.

The driver, who has not been identified, claimed he was racially abused by two women who refused to pay their fare in Blackpool, Lancashire.

Blackpool Council said the situation was "very difficult and emotional" but revoked the licence, citing previous threatening behaviour in 2016.

The driver admitted spitting but denied punching the woman.

A council meeting held behind closed doors heard how, during a previous incident in October 2016, the driver was given a severe warning letter, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

After hearing evidence from both parties, the authority's public protection sub-committee felt it "was likely" the women had racially abused him.

While this was unacceptable and the situation "was very difficult and emotional", his response was deemed "disproportionate and fell far short of the standards and conduct expected of a licensed driver".

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-49999424

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A TAXI driver who verbally abused four elderly passengers who had been enjoying a tour of Glasgow City Chambers had his licence suspended.

Michael Houston collected the women who were in their 70s in February this year from council buildings at George Square and was asked to drop them off at Buchanan Bus Station.

On the way the women asked Houston if they could be taken to La Bonne Auberge but Houston failed to acknowledge their request and continued to drive while on his mobile phone.

He stopped outside the restaurant on West Nile Street and took the fair including a tip. The women struggled to open the door and had to ask the driver for assistance.

He repeatedly told them to use the yellow handle before losing his temper and swearing at them.

He told the passengers: “For f*** sake, I have never seen anything f***ing like it. I do not f***ing believe it.”

When Houston was asked to give the tip back he said “that will be f***ing right.”

A complaint was then made to Glasgow City Council regarding Houston’s bad temper.

Houston was asked to attend an interview with enforcement officers of Glasgow City Council following the complaint.

He was also fined £100 from Glasgow Taxis. Houston was brought before the licensing committee on Wednesday to explain his actions.

He said: “I was not aware of any problems and took the passengers to La Bonne Auberge as they requested. I did tell them to use the yellow handle and I may have muttered something

under my breath but I didn’t use this language.

I don’t understand where this accusation came from.”

Councillors slammed Houston’s behaviour and said he had tarnished the reputation of Glasgow Taxis.

Councillor Alex Wilson said: “These were four senior citizens who had their day ruined by your behaviour. They were not drunken youths.

“You did not give them a good customer experience and have tarnished the reputation of Glasgow Taxis. They will now use private hire cars as they think they are going to get a better service.

“You have let down these four individuals.”

Houston said that it was not his intention to ruin their day. It was also pointed out he had been suspended in 2014 for a similar incident.

Following the hearing members agreed to suspend Houston’s licence for four months.

Source: https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/scottish-taxi-driver-who-hurled-foul-language-at-four-elderly-passengers-has-licence-suspended-1-5022511

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I like to keep up with the news. I Google “news” every morning. As someone with a painfully limited social life, it makes me feel like I’m part of society when I take an interest in events. Heaven knows nobody would want to sit and have a conversation with me. Nobody sane, anyway.

Recently I’ve happened across a few articles concerning Uber. I’ll be honest, I didn’t have a clue what it was. I genuinely believed it was some branch of social media stemming from Germany. Apparently it’s an app – you call or message for a lift from other drivers nearby or something. Essentially it’s playing taxis.

I hope this fad doesn’t put all those proper cabbies out of business. If there’s one thing I love it’s a taxi journey. I feel like royalty, getting carted around in what’s usually Peacocks’ finest, en route to a party or, more likely, to sit in the pub on my own.

The ride also gives me an opportunity to chat with another person who HAS to listen to my inane drivel because a) they want the fare (and possibly a tip); and b) we’re trapped in the car so there’s nowhere for them to run.

Being socially awkward I never know how to begin the conversation so I go right in with the old chestnuts “What time you on ’til?” and “Have you been busy?” Usually that’s enough to get the verbal juices flowing and I end up explaining how I’m going to meet all my lovely friends who think I’m just fabulous.

If I get the same cabbie going home it’s always an awkward conversation. I’ll say what a great time I had and he will ask where all my buddies were after he drove past the pub a few times and witnessed me sitting alone and crying into what looked like the world’s most elaborate cocktail.

This in turn creates another dilemma. Realising that my only friends were 12 miniature umbrellas and some twisty straws I burst into tears and the poor taxi driver is forced to listen to my life story. If he’s lucky I will condense this into 10 minutes on the way home. If he’s unlucky he has to sit outside my house while I cry into my pizza in the passenger seat.

Good, old cabbies. They’re like therapists on wheels. I bet they’ve seen and heard some things in their time – other than a strange woman crying into a takeaway because their only human interaction is a kind conversation with the driver.

Maybe I should give this Uber thing a go? I’ll be able to make a few quid AND have a good craic with the people I’m ferrying about. Then again, I can’t imagine it would be a success. I mean, my car’s about the same size as a smart car with no boot. I’d only be able to take one person at a time. And Lord help them if they’re asthmatic, my car is essentially a motorized cigarette.

Still, I do need to talk to people other than my pets and Jeff. I think I’m onto a winner. Funny thing is, Jeff is against it. He has some sound arguments. You could discuss it with him, only thing is no one else says they can see him. Weird.

Source: https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/17951240.shelley-lofthouse-praise-taxi-drivers---therapists-wheels/

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