A Wilmslow private hire driver, Mohammed Akhtar, 64, has successfully avoided a driving ban despite being caught speeding, after magistrates accepted arguments of "exceptional hardship" that would be caused to his family.

Akhtar pleaded guilty on April 23 to exceeding the 40mph speed limit on the A555 Ringway Road West in Manchester on October 5, 2023, while driving a Skoda Octavia.

On 18 May, at Bolton Magistrates’ Court, magistrates chose not to impose a 'totting' disqualification after hearing that a driving ban would lead to the loss of his job and put his family home at risk due to an inability to meet mortgage payments.

The court was also told Akhtar "supports the local community assisting elderly people unpaid taking them to and from appointments."

In sentencing, Akhtar was fined £461, ordered to pay a £184 victim surcharge and £120 in costs. His driving licence was also endorsed with four points. 

The court took his guilty plea into consideration when imposing the sentence, and he was granted permission to pay the total £765 penalty in monthly instalments of £65, beginning June 4.

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Ride-hailing giant Uber has announced its readiness to launch driverless taxi services in the UK, stating it could deploy the technology immediately upon regulatory approval. 

Andrew Macdonald, Uber's senior vice president of mobility, told the BBC the company is prepared to introduce robotaxis as soon as the "regulatory environment is ready."

Uber already collaborates with 18 self-driving vehicle companies globally, including UK-based Wayve, and currently offers driverless rides in select areas of the United States. 

This declaration follows the UK's Automated Vehicles Act, passed last year, which paves the way for autonomous vehicles on British roads by 2026.

While the Department for Transport (DfT) has indicated that consultations to finalise the regulatory framework are underway, with full deployment targeted for 2027, Uber's statement suggests a faster potential timeline. 

The government anticipates the new legislation could generate over 38,000 jobs by 2035 and significantly reduce road accidents by eliminating human error, which it claims contributes to 88 per cent of collisions.

However, concerns persist regarding passenger safety, public acceptance, and the suitability of UK road networks, particularly in London, for autonomous driving. 

A 2024 YouGov poll revealed that 37 per cent of Britons would feel "very unsafe" in a driverless car. More recently, a London-specific report indicated a fivefold increase in those feeling safe, rising from two to ten per cent.

Professor Toby Breckon, an AI expert and DfT scientific consultant, addressed safety, stating: “Driverless cars have a range of very high-precision sensors onboard that give the vehicle a strong perception of the environment around it.”

Scepticism also remains among traditional drivers. Grant Davis, chair of the London Cab Drivers Club, labelled robotaxis as ill-suited to London’s "narrow, unpredictable roads" and raised concerns about risks for late-night passengers.

Despite these doubts, Uber maintains that consumer acceptance grows rapidly once the technology is in practical use. 

In the US, their robotaxis reportedly operate up to 20 hours daily, with fares currently matching those of human-driven rides. Waymo, a leading autonomous tech firm, emphasised its rigorous testing and phased rollouts for adapting to new environments such as the UK, citing recent testing in Tokyo's left-hand traffic.

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Two men were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences after officers spotted the occupants of a taxi acting suspiciously in Walton.

Officers were on Neston Street at around 2.50pm on Thursday 15 May, when they saw four males inside a Mercedes Vito.

 The taxi came to a stop and the four males made off across County Road.

The driver of the taxi was detained and following a brief foot pursuit a second man was detained hiding in the rear garden of a house on Roxburgh Street.

Following a subsequent search of a property in Walton large bags of cannabis, scales and a vacuum sealed bag were recovered.

A 51-year-old man and a 35-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug Class B (cannabis).

Both have been released under investigation and enquiries remain ongoing.

Anyone with information about drugs being sold or stored in their community can pass on information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.

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A Welshpool taxi driver has narrowly avoided a driving ban after being found guilty of driving without due care and attention.

Keith Bonner, 57, accumulated eight penalty points, leaving him just one point away from a ban, for an incident on March 20th last year where he was seen reversing into oncoming traffic and then later forcing an elderly man to take evasive action on a zebra crossing in Welshpool town centre.

Welshpool Magistrates' Court heard that PC Hendleman witnessed Bonner's Vauxhall reversing from a side street, Parker's Place, into Salop Road. Prosecutor Suzanne Cartwright told the court that the same officer then saw an elderly pedestrian step onto a zebra crossing, but Bonner failed to stop, causing the man "to jump back onto the pavement for safety."

When the officer attempted to explain the traffic violations – driving the wrong way on a one-way system and failing to stop at a zebra crossing – Bonner reportedly became "verbal and argumentative, raising his voice and wouldn't listen to the officer explaining why he had been stopped."

The prosecutor highlighted that the offences were aggravated by Bonner's professional status as a taxi driver and the potential harm to the pedestrian. The court also noted Bonner already had three points on his licence for speeding.

Representing himself, Bonner contested the charges, stating he "absolutely did not" accept reversing into oncoming traffic or failing to stop for the pedestrian, dismissing it as "hearsay."

He explained his absence at the trial was due to major surgery in January, a request to vacate which was unsuccessful. Bonner argued that losing his licence would impede his access to hospital appointments due to mobility issues.

Despite Bonner's denial, Chair of the magistrates' bench Anthony Jackson stated: "You were found guilty because you endangered a pedestrian which was committed during a busy time of the day in Welshpool... We agree with the prosecution that this is a matter of seriousness and it was aggravated by you being a professional driver."

Mr. Jackson added: "However, we will treat this with benevolence with your hospital treatment. You have got to drive within the law at all times."

Bonner, who is currently unable to work until July, was ordered to pay £902 to the court, including a victim surcharge, fine, and prosecution costs. He informed the magistrates of his intention to appeal the conviction.

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An Ayrshire taxi driver has been granted a temporary licence exception by North Ayrshire Licensing Committee, allowing her to use a standard car instead of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that has become prohibitively expensive to repair.

Angela Murray explained to the committee that a series of "life-changing events" had placed her in a severe financial predicament. She requested permission to substitute her non-compliant Skoda Octavia for her Peugeot Horizon wheelchair-accessible taxi.

Detailing her situation, Ms. Murray stated: "I currently have a wheelchair access vehicle on a Peugeot Horizon - the vehicle has still got car finance but the engine mounting collapsed and it will be approximately £3,500 to get the car fixed and put it back on the road... I came to be in this position of being financially constrained due to life-changing events."

She outlined a myriad of difficulties, including her husband being unable to drive due to fainting spells after Covid, followed by DVLA delays in reinstating his licence. Subsequently, her youngest daughter fell seriously ill, requiring four months of hospital care and impacting Ms. Murray's ability to work due to stress and anxiety.

Just as they were recovering financially, the taxi required significant expenditure for its licence, test, a new exhaust system, and tyres, before the engine mount collapsed in January, leaving her husband without income.

Ms. Murray further explained the limited demand for wheelchair-accessible vehicles among their customer base, noting: "We find there is not a great need for wheelchairs as a lot of our customers are older and struggle to get out of the bigger vehicles anyway."

She also highlighted the negative financial implications of scrapping the financed vehicle.

Councillor Ronnie Stalker proposed granting the request, a motion seconded by Councillor Jean McClung and subsequently approved by the committee.

Committee Chair Eleanor Collier expressed their understanding, saying: “We understand you have been through a difficult time and we will grant this exception to our policy and a substitution of the licence and hope you can sort out your financial situation and get back on your feet.”

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