A Bristol taxi driver who faces a court appearance for hitting two pedestrians has been allowed to keep his licence.
BristolLive reports that city councillors decided to renew the cabbie’s hackney carriage driver licence after hearing he was highly respected in the trade, had an unblemished 27-year record and was “sincerely remorseful”.
The accident happened at a blind junction obscured by a wall in Clifton as he attempted to pull out, Bristol City Council’s licensing sub-committee was told.
Recently published minutes of the private meeting at City Hall last month said he had never previously had an incident.
The record of the hearing said: “There was a wall all along Clifton Down Road which limited a view. He stopped at the junction and saw a gap in the traffic and pulled out and on doing so he collided with two pedestrians.
“He would be summoned to court for the offence of driving without due care and attention.”
The driver told the panel that it was a “momentary lapse and he could not justify that loss of concentration”.
The minutes said he was “extremely remorseful” and hoped to do the job for a few more years before retiring. The papers said: “He had helped the trade with a disability awareness course.
“He had not notified the licensing authority immediately as he had been in shock and could not think what to do. He had not seen the pedestrians waiting there and as he waited for a gap in the traffic they had walked around the side of his car.
“He had two passengers in his taxi. The Sub-Committee then heard from his employer who confirmed that the licence holder had worked for him since 2011 and had never had a complaint.
“He had not worked since the incident and it would be a great loss not to get his badge back. He was thought highly of.”
The panel approved the cabbie’s application to renew his licence and decided no action should be taken.
Its decision said: “His unblemished record over 20 years was taken into account. He was sincerely remorseful and had not attempted to excuse the fact that it was his fault.
“The severity of the incident was acknowledged but it was agreed that public safety was not compromised.”
The minutes did not say whether the pedestrians suffered any injuries.
Source: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-cabbie-who-hit-two-9254222
Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a private hire driver was threatened with a knife.
Police would like to speak to anyone who can assist with inquiries into the incident.
According to the Telegraph and Argus, it happened at around at 3.25am close to Fry Dayz on The Parade in Batley on Thursday, April 25.
It happened after a Toyota Prius PHV, which had been ordered to an address there, pulled up at the location.
Police said it was then entered by a male suspect who threatened the driver inside with a knife and then assaulted him.
The suspect then fled with cash and other items from the victim’s car, leaving the male driver uninjured but very shaken.
Detective Sergeant Andy Holmes of the Kirklees District Crime Team, said: “We are continuing a number of enquiries into this serious incident which was clearly a very frightening and distressing experience for the driver.
“I would like to speak to anyone who may have information which could assist the investigation or perhaps footage from home CCTV which captures what occurred.
“Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to contact the Kirklees District Crime Team on 101 referencing police crime number 13240219932.
“Information can also be given online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat or anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111."
Source: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/24285632.taxi-driver-threatened-knife-parade-batley/
On Monday 29 April, scores of Uber drivers protested over pay in Birmingham.
BirminghamLive reports that up to 100 gathered outside the firm's office before a convoy formed near Birmingham New Street Station.
The demonstrators claim their pay has fallen and feel unfairly treated by the app-based operator. The firm said all drivers are guaranteed a National Living Wage, holiday pay and sickness protection.
The demo was held at Uber Birmingham Greenlight Hub in Aston for three hours until lunchtime. A convoy of cars then formed outside Birmingham New Street.
Drivers blared their horns and a blue smoke flare was set off.
“We are doing the work, driving our cars, paying the tax, paying the outrageous insurance premiums and we’re only getting 40 per cent," said Minhaj Uddin, from the Uber Drivers' Union UK.
He added: "We're here because we're suffering. We organised this (the demo) for three-and-a-half months during our own work and other commitments.
"We have to put everything aside to organise this. We don't want to be the enemy of Uber - we want to be friends. They call us partner, but they are not treating us like a partner."
Uber said Living Wage and holiday pay was based on just over 12 per cent of earnings.
An Uber spokesperson said: “We regularly engage with drivers, including through our industry-leading agreement with GMB union which ensures all drivers have access to full union representation.”
Taxi fares in Newcastle-under-Lyme could increase by around 25 per cent following a request from drivers.
StokeonTrentLive reports that Newcastle is currently one of the cheapest places in the UK to travel by hackney carriage, with passengers being charged no more than £5.55 for a two-mile journey within the borough during the day.
But drivers have now asked Newcastle Borough Council to increase the tariffs for the first time in five years.
The proposed increase would see the cost of a two-mile journey during the day increase by 24.3 per cent to £6.90. And the cost of the same journey at night under the higher 'tariff two' would be increased from £7.40 to £8.75 - an 18.2 per cent rise.
Newcastle Hackney Carriage Drivers Association is also requesting that tariff two comes into effect at 10pm, rather than midnight.
The borough council's licensing and public protection committee decided whether to approve the changes when they met on Monday, April 29.
In a letter to the borough council, drivers association chairman Muhammed Murtaza Alam argued that since the last review, cabbies had been hit with rapidly increasing costs for things like fuel and insurance.
He says: "It has been almost five years since we had the last fair increase in 2019. Since then the cost of living has increased rapidly - fuel prices have increased, insurance premiums, maintenance cost, everything gone up.
"Also when it comes to replacing vehicles because of licensing requirements the new vehicles are very costly.
"The businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre close earlier at night time, during the week most of the businesses close before 12am and on weekends everything closes before 2am.
"Most of the neighbouring councils' taxi fares changes from tariff one to tariff two at 10pm. Therefore it's been a long going demand of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Hackney drivers to amend the tariff so they start at 10pm."
According to the PHTM taxi fare league table, Newcastle's current cheapest tariff is ranked 328th out of 344 local authorities in the country - the proposed increase would see it move up to 184th.
Taxis licensed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council currently charge £5.90 for a two-mile journey during the day, which is the 313th highest fare in the country. In comparison, in Manchester the fare would be £8.20, while in Nottingham it would be £8.
Newcastle's cabbies have asked for the tariff two period to start at 10pm on two previous occasions. But in 2015 and in 2019, the licensing committee voted against the proposal.
Other changes proposed by the drivers include increasing the soiling charge from £60 to £80, and for additional notes for customers to be added to the tariff sheet displayed inside vehicles. These notes would explain that out-of-borough journeys are normally negotiated with the driver in advance, rather than being metered, and that payment in advance may be asked for such journeys.
If the committee approve the changes, they will be subject to a consultation before going to cabinet for ratification.
Source: https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/end-cheap-taxis-huge-fare-9240235
A young couple suspected of repeatedly dining and dashing are under investigation by police after quick-thinking patrons prevented them from leaving a pub without paying their £62 bill.
EssexLive reports that the pair, recognised by staff and customers, are thought to have swindled local businesses in Southend out of hundreds of pounds.
Over ten taxi drivers in the area also allege that they've been victims of the couple's scam, claiming they've run off without paying their fares.
The duo, identified locally as a former solicitor and an electrician, were confronted at the Castle Inn in Little Wakering, near Southend in Essex.
On Tuesday, April 23, Landlord Ken Todd, 76, said the couple tried to leave without paying the bill for their two starters, two main courses and four drinks before staff and other customers intervened to hold them there before the police arrived.
He added: "The customers blocked the entrance and were checking who was coming in and out. The man tried to leave through the back door of the pub which I had already locked and apparently the woman tried to escape by the bathroom window."
Mr Todd, who has been landlord for the last eight years, said: "A waitress pointed out to me that they were people that had done a runner from other places when they sat down. Maybe I should have gone over to them at that point but we decided to keep an eye on the pair and, sure enough, they tried to leave multiple times by various routes.
The police arrived and took the couple's details but ultimately let them go as the landlord considered it "not worth pursuing for £60".
An Essex Police spokesperson said: "Details were taken from two people at the scene and enquiries are ongoing."
The duo are also suspected of scamming local taxi companies by claiming they don't have any money to pay or promising to return with the payment.
Patrick Pjetri, a driver for the '333444' taxi firm in Southend, was reportedly duped by the couple on February 4 of this year. Mr Pejtri, 44, revealed that he was alerted by his company's office about two individuals who had skipped out on a fare earlier that day, along with a description of the pair.
A couple fitting that description later entered his cab, and he recognised them as the 'dine and dash' culprits.
He recounted: "The man asked to get out the car earlier than the woman and when she asked to get out further down the road, she couldn't offer any payment.
"She offered me a phone charger saying its worth £20 when the fare was £19.20. When I refused, she started screaming and saying 'its false imprisonment' because I said they'd have to leave something behind or wait until they could come up with the cash.
"In the end I had to just let her leave because of her screaming and shouting."
He stated: "It's got to a point now where the police aren't doing anything so it must now be up to the small businesses to take matters into their own hands."
Ruzhdi Bushi, 46, had a similar encounter with the man last year and recognised him from CCTV footage. Mr Bushi revealed that he had picked up the couple on multiple occasions for the same taxi company and reported them to the police after they skipped out on a £20 fare.
He said: "I reported them to the police and they said 'are you willing to go to court? ', I thought 'no, not for the sake for £20'. They said they'd dismiss the case and now I realise the pair have been doing it to everyone - we know of at least ten drivers.
"The officer told me we know who it is and we have his details."
Zeeshan Hayder, another driver for the same taxi firm, has also been victim to the man's antics twice when he ran off without paying on both occasions. In his 18 years as a cab driver, Mr Hayder says this is the worst case of fare evasion he's encountered.
Mr Hayder, 39, said: "I've called the police and they say it's a civil matter but those two are taking advantage of that. They know people won't want to waste their time and money going to court for £10."
The woman in the pair is believed to be a former lawyer struck off after being previously convicted of failing to pay a £60.91 at a Harvester restaurant.
The man is believed to be an electrician whose former employer accused him of stealing £7,000 worth of equipment.
Source: https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/dine-dash-couple-who-fled-9251515
Chorley businesses are working together on a new project to support the borough’s homeless - which will see taxi drivers deliver takeaways to the needy.
North Yorkshire Police roads policing officers worked alongside North Yorkshire Council's taxi licensing enforcement staff.
Two women racially abused a taxi driver during a late-night journey across Carlisle after he told them they should not eat and drink in his cab.
Warwickshire Police stopped and checked 40 taxi drivers during a joint operation with City of Wolverhampton Council’s taxi compliance officers.
Edinburgh black cab drivers have criticised the council after being asked to pay to have planters on The Royal Mile moved for their annual outing for vulnerable children.
A total of 19 taxis have been stopped in and around Cambridge in a crackdown on vehicle safety and parking on double yellow lines.
London cabbie Farid Cheheb, 60, fatally injured Irish barman Shane Scannell, 44, who died in hospital four days later surrounded by his devastated family.
Sam Bradley’s actions left the victim with a broken leg and broken ankle, said Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting.
New data has confirmed the city as the country's private hire vehicle capital - with a licensing rate a staggering 500 per cent higher than the second-placed location.
The repetitive action of pressing the car accelerator pedal activates certain neural pathways that promote relaxation and reduce stress levels.