A Tokyo taxi driver was arrested for deliberately driving into a flock of pigeons and killing one, the police said on December 5, reportedly because he was angry that the birds were on the road.
The Straits Times reports that Atsushi Ozawa, 50, “used his car to kill a common pigeon, which is not a game animal” in the Japanese capital in November, and was arrested on December 3 for violating wildlife protection laws, a Tokyo police spokesman said.
Ozawa sped off from a traffic light when it turned green, ploughing his taxi into the bevy of birds at a speed of 60kmh, local media said.
The sound of the engine reportedly prompted a surprised passer-by to report the incident.
Tokyo police had a veterinarian perform a post-mortem on the hapless pigeon and determined its cause of death as traumatic shock, according to local media.
“Roads belong to humans, so pigeons should have dodged out of the way,” Ozawa was quoted by local media as telling investigators.
The police called his behaviour “highly malicious” for a professional driver before deciding to go ahead with the arrest, broadcaster Fuji TV said.
Police said that nearby surveillance cameras and the taxi's dashboard camera had captured the incident.
If found guilty, Ozawa would have violated Japan's Wildlife Protection, Control, and Hunting Management Act.
Police added that Ozawa is a professional driver, and thus should be held to a higher ethical standard on the road
“Wow, can you get arrested for running over a pigeon?” one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“He could’ve just honked his car horn or something. But intentionally killing it? That’s crossing the line,” another posted. AFP
A couple have been charged nearly £86 for a three-mile taxi ride home, prompting an investigation by Uber amid allegations of a scam.
Rob Wright, 60, was at a wake in Kingswinford, Dudley, with his wife Kay when he booked an Uber ride to return home to Stourbridge.
He said the 15-minute journey cost him £5.91, but the next day, the driver charged him an additional £80 for a cleaning fee.
Uber has apologised, and Mr Wright - who denies any mess-making - has been issued with a full refund.
Mr Wright, who is retired, told the BBC: "[The money] was taken straight out of my account without even discussing the matter with me.
"This was my first time using Uber and I will never use them again.
"Me and my wife were returning home after a little girl's funeral and [the driver] probably assumed, because he'd picked us up from [a] pub, we'd had one too many."
They took the trip on the evening of 15 November.
Mr Wright said he informed Uber that neither he or his wife caused any mess in the vehicle but the company refused to listen and sent him photos which he believed the driver had faked.
"This is a scam," Mr Wright alleged, and added he had seen similar experiences described online.
In 2018, the Guardian reported that an Uber customer was charged £60, external in cleaning fees after the company claimed the passenger had made a mess.
Uber said it was continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Wright's ride.
A spokesperson told the BBC: "For licensed drivers who use the app, their vehicles are their place of work and any damage or mess can mean they are unable to continue working.
"We are constantly reviewing our processes and technology and will take appropriate action whenever fraud is detected."
A number of Glasgow taxi drivers have spoken about the positive impact walking football has had on their health since they started.
According to the Glasgow Times, around a dozen of the city's cab drivers started getting together to start a weekly class which would not only help their physical health but their mental health too.
The walking football games take place at the Park Villa hub in Govan every Monday from 7pm with around 30 people attending and see a mix of taxi drivers, family and friends getting involved after starting nearly six months ago.
The two people behind helping create the sessions are Jim Buchanan and Stephen Lally, who are cab drivers in Glasgow.
Their aim was to make an evening that people could look forward to every week and get out of the house, as well as make a friendly atmosphere that people could enjoy.
Jim said: "We wanted to start something that people could have an eye on every week.
"Taxi driving can be stressful at times, so having something like this does help people release some of that.
"It also helps some of us keep active because all day we are sitting down so it does have a great effect in that sense of making us move about more."
Stephen added: "The comradery between everyone is brilliant and that is a big reason why we do it.
"It has undoubtedly been a massive boost to many of the boys' mental health as you can see their smile when they're playing"
The rules of walking football ensure that it is friendly for people of all ages as running and tackling are forbidden.
It aims to get as many people involved, with the aim of joining a league coming in the future with kits already sponsored by Glasgow Taxis Ltd.
One of the people who has been attending for the last few months is Harry Laurie, 70, who described the Monday nights as a "new lease of life" for him.
Harry, who is a taxi driver in Glasgow, explained that getting to kick a football about again made him feel like he was 24 again, and take him back to his younger days in his mind.
He said: "It is great to mix with the boys and at 70 years of age you don't think that you will kick a ball again.
"You still think that you are a young boy when you are playing, running when you shouldn't be.
"Walking football gets you out, gets you moving and the good banter with the boys is amazing.
"You don't believe the feeling when you have a ball at your feet. I played five-asides until I was 51, and then I just stopped everything after that.
"But when walking football came up I said I am going to try that, and it is the best decision I've made."
Taxi marshals will once again be on the streets of Beverley and Bridlington on key dates during Christmas, making sure people get home safely.
The Bridlington Echo reports that East Riding of Yorkshire Council's licensing team will be providing highly visible taxi marshals who will be working to ensure those celebrating Christmas and New Year get home safely.
The licensed marshals will operate in Beverley Saturday Market on Friday, 22 December from 8pm until 2am; Boxing Day from 8pm until 1am; and on New Year’s Eve from 10pm until 2am.
They will also be in Bridlington on Boxing Day from 8pm until 1am, to help ensure people leave the town centres safely, make sure there are orderly queues and making sure people are getting into a licensed vehicle.
Councillor Leo Hammond said: “Over recent years, the taxi marshals have offered a very useful service for our residents, and helped keep people safe.
"I am delighted that they will be back again this year, and I urge our Christmas revellers to make use of them.”
Source: https://bridlingtonecho.co.uk/taxi-marshals-on-streets-of-bridlington-during-the-festive-season/
Angus taxi operators will get a fares increase after councillors voted overwhelmingly to bring in new rates.
The Courier reports that it will see the price of a basic daytime fare for a short journey jump by around 30p.
A decision on the fares increase was delayed last month after the council forgot to invite operators to a meeting to discuss the issue.
But civic licensing councillors have since met to consider a range of options and several operators took the chance to state their case for an increase.
The committee eventually voted 10-1 to back the proposal put forward by Neil Gibson of Lorimer Cabs in Montrose.
He suggested increases of between 7% and 10% for fares covering the first mile.
The main Angus tariffs are:
Monday to Friday 6am to 6pm: £4.03 for first mile, £6.31 (two miles), £8.58 (three miles) rising to £35.91 (15 miles)
Nights and weekends: £4.97 (first mile), £7.55 (two miles), £10.14 (three miles) rising to £41.13 (15 miles).
Under the agreed proposal, the maximum fares will rise to £4.33 and £5.45 as the starting point for the two tariffs.
There are different rates for Christmas and New Year.
The new charge for those will be from £6.93 for the first mile.
But the new rates have to be publicised first so they will not be brought in for this festive season.
Mr Gibson said there needs to be better dialogue between the council and cabbies. “I understand what I need to run my business,” he said.
“There should be interaction with the council and at the moment there is none.”
Other operators also spoke in favour of an increase. Mitch Murray of Forfar Taxi Company said the last review was 18 months ago.
“It’s not a big increase (being proposed) but if we miss one then three years is a long time for us to go without one.”
And Wendy Foreman of GW Taxis in Forfar said the trade is facing spiralling costs. “I feel we really need it,” she said. “We haven’t had an increase for a while.
“Diesel and petrol fluctuate but if they go up we’re not like a shop, we can’t just put our prices up. And insurance has rocketed through the roof, it’s absolutely crazy.”
Civic licensing convener George Meechan was the lone voice in support of fares staying the same. He said the council had received eight representations in favour of the status quo.
One Arbroath taxi operator said any increase would be a “fatal blow” to their business.
“If eight say no and three say aye then the noes have it for me, that’s democracy,” he said.
Source: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/?post_type=fp&p=4831526
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was amongst the thousands who enjoyed the Battle Proms at Highclere Castle on 3 August.
Swindon residents could be facing a hike in taxi fares from October after councillors gave the green light to a £1 increase in the standard fare minimum charge.
Ricky Harold, a 20-year veteran of the town’s taxi trade, was parked in a lay-by when his vehicle was struck from behind by a black Audi A2.
Chinese automotive giant Geely has deepened its commitment to the UK electric vehicle market with a £120m cash injection into London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC).
North Tyneside Council is facing a backlash over plans to increase taxi fares by 6.3%.
Nazim Asmal preyed on his victims after nights out in Preston and Darwen, driving them to secluded spots before carrying out horrific sexual assaults.
Newcastle is set to see a surge in pink taxis driven by women as part of a new initiative aimed at improving passenger safety.
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks.
A Barry man has avoided jail after launching a drunken attack on a taxi driver who refused him entry to his vehicle.
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed.
On Wednesday 27 July, more than 300 vulnerable youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport.
Taxi drivers in the town will be able to charge passengers more following a decision by the borough council on 31 July.
A taxi driver has been sentenced to a community order after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian by driving at excessive speed.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.
BYD, manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, designed to bring 100,000 new BYD EVs onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.