London’s largest private hire and taxi firm Addison Lee has today, 28 November, announced an investment of £30 million in 600 brand new, zero-emission capable (ZEC) VW multivans.
These vehicles will replace the remaining diesel people carriers on the fleet, with Addison Lee’s entire standard passenger fleet set to be zero emission capable by April 2024.
The new vehicles offer passengers a sustainable version of the iconic, premium vehicles for which Addison Lee is famous. They feature fully configurable seating for up to six people and represent the next step up in luxury passenger experience.
The move reflects the firm’s continued commitment to electrification, while providing customers with a wide range of premium vehicles to meet all their transport needs.
Leading the market in sustainable transport in London
With over 1,000 fully electric ID.4s on its fleet, Addison Lee has invested significantly in sustainable vehicles as well as in London’s infrastructure to ensure drivers have access to reliable charging options.
The acquisition earlier this year of sustainable operator ‘Green Tomato Cars’ strengthened the firm’s position as the capital’s largest private hire, taxi and same day courier business, while also bringing a wide range of full electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrids onto the fleet.
Meanwhile Addison Lee has built strategic partnerships with bp pulse, ChargePoint and Bonnet, as well as an investment of £150,000 to install ultra-rapid charging points at the company’s West Drayton fleet hub.
Addison Lee CEO Liam Griffin says, “For nearly 50 years, we’ve been providing our customers with the highest levels of service and comfort. And following the pandemic, we have established ourselves back at the forefront of the industry in London - raising the bar for quality, sustainability and choice.
“Today, our focus is on enhancing our fleet and investing in the capital’s charging infrastructure, so we continue to lead the industry on sustainability while supporting our customers with their net zero journeys.”
“As the first private hire operator in London to introduce electric vehicles at scale, we remain committed to operating a zero emissions fleet. However, our experience has since shown us that we need to be pragmatic about how we achieve this.
“Right now, there is neither the availability of vehicles nor robust enough charging infrastructure in London to go fully electric at speed and scale. That’s why we’re investing today in a broader range of sustainable options to meet current demand from passengers - while remaining committed to our long-term goal of full electrification.
“It’s critical that we have both the right infrastructure and regulation in place to allow us to achieve this.
"That’s why we’re asking the Mayor of London to reconsider his plans to abolish the congestion charge exemption for electric vehicles. Removing this vital incentive will make it more costly to operate electric vehicles in the capital and jeopardise his net zero 2030 ambition for the city.”
Hackney carriage fares in Blackburn with Darwen will increase with effect from December 18, following a request from taxi drivers and firms.
The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the higher charge for using cabs on Sundays and Bank Holidays was removed in 2022.
A report by Blackburn with Darwen Council's environment boss, Cllr Jim Smith, says: "Blackburn Hackney Carriage Association has submitted a request on behalf of the trade for an increase in the fares for hackney carriage journeys.
"The last increase was in 2022. If there are no objections to the request the increase will take effect. Any objections will be considered.
"The proposal for Blackburn with Darwen is to keep the current fare for shorter journeys.
"However where journeys are longer than 672 meters (735 yards) to reduce the number of additional metres travelled for 10p.
"The impact of the change will only be seen in longer journeys – approximately 10 miles and above.
"The proposal is to also re-instate a Tariff 2 fare (higher charge) for Sundays and Bank Holidays. This was removed in 2022.
"The valet fee if a vehicle is fouled by a customer to also be increased from £20 to £50. This will more realistically cover the costs of cleaning and loss of work time whilst a vehicle is being cleaned."
The new fares are:
• For hiring between 6am and 10pm Monday to Saturday (excluding bank holidays) * If the distance does not exceed 672 metres (735 yards) for the whole thereof £3.50; and * For each subsequent 68.5 metres (75 yards) or lesser portion thereof 10p; and * Waiting period for each period of 55 seconds or uncompleted part thereof 10p For hiring between 10pm and 6am Monday to Saturday, all day Sunday and Bank Holidays: * If the distance does not exceed 634 metres (693 yards) for the whole thereof £3.50; and * For each subsequent 59.4 metres (65 yards) or lesser portion thereof 10p.
• For hiring between 10pm December 24 and 6am December 27 and between 6.00 pm December 31 and 6am January 2: * If the distance does not exceed 603 metres (660 yards) for the whole thereof £3.75; and * For each subsequent 92 metres (101yards) or lesser portion thereof 15p.
• Extra passengers, wheelchairs and assistance dogs will remain free but a £1 charge will be imposed for pets, dogs and cats.
Source: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23946665.taxi-fares-blackburn-darwen-set-rise/
A taxi driver accused a private hire driver of going to kill passengers during a road rage incident in the Glasgow city centre.
But private hire driver Saleem Dean claimed the taxi driver was being racist towards him in a heated exchange over his driving.
The black taxi driver lodged a complaint about Mr Dean accusing him of erratic driving and cutting across lanes, claiming it was necessary to brake to avoid a collision.
The pair were driving in Hope Street when the argument began. The taxi driver reacted to Mr Dean’s driving while a section of the street was cordoned off for road works in April, a meeting heard.
The row continued into West George Street and the taxi driver pulled alongside Mr Dean asking what he was playing at. He said Mr Dean used bad language.
It culminated with the taxi driver getting out of his vehicle when Mr Dean pulled over.
Mr Dean appeared in front of the city’s licensing and regulatory committee on 25 November over the complaint that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
He told councillors the complainant called him a ‘d**k’ and pulled in front of him when he dropped passengers at Queen Street station.
He said the taxi driver called him a “killer” and a “pig” He added: “I think he had a bad day.”
Committee chair councillor Alex Wilson, SNP, said the taxi driver had accused Mr Dean of “erratic driving” and “zipping about all over the place.”
Mr Dean explained he had moved lanes at a slow speed.
Explaining more about the other driver’s behaviour, Mr Dean added “He said to my passengers: ‘He is going to kill you.'”
Mr Dean said: “I asked what his problem was and if he was a racist.”
Cllr Wilson said people should not face that type of provocation based on their religion and being a Muslim.
The committee decided that no action would be taken against Mr Dean based on the complaint to the council’s taxi and private hire enforcement unit.
An unlicensed private hire driver who knocked down and killed a seven-year-old boy after the Bradford youngster was left “home alone” by his mother has been jailed for nine years and nine months.
The Telegraph and Argus reports that back in August 2020, Malakye Hall managed to get out of a house while his mum Wendy Hall was visiting her partner.
At about 10pm that night, he was hit by Mohsin Hussain’s Toyota Auris on Manchester Road.
His 33-year-old mum was subsequently jailed for three years after she admitted a charge of neglect and in October father-of-three Hussain, 32, from Bradford, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing Malakye’s death by dangerous driving.
Bradford Crown Court heard that despite his private hire licence having expired the month before the collision, Hussain had continued operating as a cabbie and had completed an estimated 70 fare-paying journeys while unlicensed.
But Hussain was not working as a cabbie on the night he struck the youngster and after the collision, he was found to have more than double the limit for cannabis in his system.
Judge Jonathan Rose was shown dashcam footage from Hussain’s Toyota which showed him driving over the speed limit on several city centre roads in the minutes leading up to the fatal collision.
The footage showed Hussain going around a roundabout the wrong way, running red lights, and undertaking other motorists shortly before he hit Malakye as he tried to cross Manchester Road.
The boy suffered fatal head injuries in the collision and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford conceded that Malakye appeared to have run into the carriageway, but she said the judge had to take account of Hussain’s dangerous driving over the previous 2.6 miles before the collision.
The court heard that Hussain, who was dealt with for a speeding offence just six months before the collision, remained at the scene of the incident and had subsequently expressed genuine remorse.
His barrister Oliver Jarvis said Hussain had paid some money towards the expenses for Malakye’s funeral and had constantly said he was sorry during an interview for a pre-sentence report.
Mr Jarvis said there was no justification for the way his client had been driving that night and he accepted that his driving had been impaired through drugs.
Sentencing Hussain, Judge Rose stressed that no sentence the court could pass could ever compensate for the loss of Malakye or represent the value of his life.
Judge Rose said Hussain had been driving at speed and without regard for other road users, including pedestrians, for some time before he struck and killed the little boy.
“You were prepared to drive on public roads when you knew, or ought to have known, that your ability to drive was significantly impaired,” he told Hussain.
During his driving that night Hussain reached speeds of almost double the 30mph limit and he was driving at about 53 or 54mph when he hit Malakye.
Judge Rose said Hussain had been driving dangerously since the moment he left his home that night and his dangerous driving and impatience with other road users had all brought about the death of Malakye.
He accepted that since the fatal collision Hussain had been volunteering and had been involved in educating others on road safety.
Hussain was banned from driving for a total of ten years and ten months and he must also take an extended re-test at the end of that disqualification period.
Speaking after the court hearing, Detective Inspector Paul Conroy, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “Malakye’s death has had a profound effect on his family and everyone who knew him.
"They have had to wait three years for this to come to a conclusion and I thank them for their patience.
“I know that today’s sentence will never bring Malakye back but I hope that it can give them some comfort and justice in knowing that the man responsible for driving the car that hit Malakye has been jailed.”
A private hire driver has been praised for “blocking in” a suspected drink driver in Benfleet and taking the motorist’s keys.
According to the Basildon Echo, accountant Mohammad Ali Shah, 29, who is also driver with ABC Taxis, based in Church Road, was driving a passenger on High Road, near the Anchor pub, at 11pm on Saturday 25 November, when he became “very concerned” about another vehicle.
Mohammed said he immediately “flashed the car and used his vehicle to block the car in to prevent him continuing on his journey” before taking the driver's keys to ensure he could not drive.
The 29-year-old said: “It happened at the busiest time, and I knew that if I did nothing about the driver, something bad could’ve happened.
“It was scary and heartbreaking because it was right in High Road and given it was Saturday night, it was full of people using the pubs.
"The keys were given to police, when they arrived at around 12am, and I gave the driver a lift back to where he lives in Amid Road, Canvey.
“For me, I didn’t think twice about it. It’s human nature and instinct to help and do something to keep everyone safe.
“I feel happy and really proud that I made people realise what humanity is, but for me, knowing people were safe is the most important thing.
“Becoming a taxi driver has made me stronger, in terms of not getting emotional, such as when a woman nearly jumped out of my cab while driving after a fight. I love my job.”
Mohammed suspected that the driver was “intoxicated”.
A spokesman for Essex Police said the force had received a report of the incident and inquiries are ongoing.
The passenger emailed the firm to praise Mohammed, which left everyone feeling surprised and “so proud”.
Michael Hannan, owner of ABC Taxis, said: “We’re absolutely so proud of him, and the lady that emailed us to say what happened left some of my staff in tears.
“We’re a family, and our friends are on the road at all times. He was looking out for all his friends.
“It’s amazing what Mohammed did, and we’re just so proud of him.”
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
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.