Private hire driver, Joshua Mannah, was parked in his vehicle near Southmead Hospital, Bristol, when a man rapped on his window and hurriedly explained that he needed a lift home, so his child isn’t left alone too long.
Despite Joshua emphasising that it’s illegal for him to pick up passengers who haven’t pre-booked, recognising the man’s desperation, he eventually agreed to take him.
According to The Bristol Cable, along the way, Joshua was pulled over by police, and slapped with six points on his licence for driving a vehicle uninsured against third party risks.
The whole thing was a stitch-up.
While he admits what he did was illegal, he says it was “unfair and cruel” for a plainclothes police officer to use tactics that played on his good character. And the so-called “sting” has had lasting financial consequences.
The 55-year-old dad has driven in Bristol for about 25 years, had a clean record before the incident, which he calls a “complete one-off”.
The alleged incident happened in July 2020, when Covid restrictions meant cabbies were struggling. And the penalty, Joshua says, meant he couldn’t work for some companies operating in the city.
“My debts have just mounted [as a result],” Joshua told the Cable. He says he’s lost as much as £700 a month in income, and been unable to keep up with mortgage repayments.
Three years on, he’s demanding answers from the police.
But Avon and Somerset Police says there is no evidence that the plainclothes officer used these tactics and that Mr Mannah missed opportunities to make a formal complaint.
However, the force did say that it works with Bristol City Council, using ‘test purchasing’ to check private hire drivers are picking up passengers legally.
A spokesperson for the force said the rules around these practices are strict and procedures are in place to protect drivers’ rights, adding: “Officers are not allowed to encourage, mislead or persuade drivers to take them.”
According to bodycam footage of Joshua speaking to an officer after being pulled over, they added, the cabbie did not explain he had been encouraged by the ‘passenger’.
The moment Joshua picked up the undercover officer was not filmed, they said, because the person involved did not have a “direct surveillance order” allowing them to film Joshua unknowingly.
According to minutes of a Bristol City Council public safety and protection sub-committee meeting in which Joshua’s case was heard, the driver told officers his passenger was a “friend” – before admitting that this was untrue.
No mention is made of Joshua’s claim that he was encouraged by the undercover officer with a story about his need to get home to his child, but Joshua says the hearing was “20 minutes” and he was unaware he could appeal.
The incident happened after three months of lockdown. Joshua had been off the road due to Covid restrictions, the council meeting in August 2020 heard, causing him and his family “financial hardship”.
He was overdue on car payments and had to take a mortgage holiday, councillors were told.
This, Joshua says, might have been why they “took pity” and did not suspend his private hire licence for six months as they could have done.
To add insult to injury, Joshua says that in December 2022 complications getting his taxi licence renewed by Bristol City Council meant he was unable to work for a week.
“I tried calling and calling, trying to get it sorted, but there is nobody there to communicate with,” Joshua says.
“On the phone most of the time it’s an automated voice. Everything is mostly over email or online.”
He says other drivers he knows have been out of work for weeks, even months, due to delays with their licences being renewed in recent years.
Some, he adds, have stopped trying and got a taxi licence with South Gloucestershire Council, where he says the process is far smoother.
“You’re left in suspense, not knowing if you’re going to get your badge or plates renewed,” Joshua says. “[The process] needs to be fixed, and it won’t if nobody is taking ownership or responsibility for the problem.”
A spokesperson for the council said the authority is working to improve the processing time by hiring and training temporary staff.
Glasgow taxi drivers have slammed the growing danger from electric bikes in the city.
GlasgowLive reports that the cabbies have called for action against the delivery bikes, which they say are being driven 'recklessly' through the city centre.
It comes as concern has been growing in the city where some riders can be seen driving against the flow of traffic and mounting pavements while wearing black clothing which restrict visibility - creating a danger to pedestrians and drivers alike.
The calls come just a week after police seized 12 vehicles in a crackdown on illegally modified bikes capable of going at high speeds.
Other dangerous incidents have included the bikes being driven over the Kingston Bridge and through the Clyde Tunnel.
Shocking footage shared in May 2022 showed a food delivery driver cycling traveling down the left hand lane pedalling through the tunnel alongside a vehicle. The phone footage was captured by the car passenger, who expressed their amazement at the sight.
GlasgowLive reported in July how another food courier was spotted again traveling through the tunnel as it moved alongside vehicles.
In another incident in June 2022, a driver was arrested after concerned members of the public reported seeing a rider on the M8 motorway.
And according to the BBC, a Glasgow student was injured after being struck by a speeding food delivery courier travelling the wrong way. After falling from his bike he was reportedly taken to hospital with a torn kidney.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Taxis said: "The number of illegal electric delivery bikes has been a growing problem for some time and it was inevitable that action would have to be taken. It is unfortunate that someone had to be injured first.
"Anyone who frequents the city centre, including taxi drivers, will have seen these bikes being driven recklessly, against the flow of traffic, on pavements, particularly at night.
"The most extreme examples have even seen these bikes being ridden on the Kingston bridge and Clyde tunnel. The riders are seldom without a phone in their hand, wearing clothing which restricts their vision and paying little attention to other road users.
"These are not really bicycles they are electric motorcycles without the incumbent legal requirements. Any action must be viewed as positive."
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/reckless-glasgow-e-bikes-growing-28067295
Taxi fares in East Lothian will be increased by 20 per cent from February 1 next year after a proposal for the increase was approved unanimously by members of the council’s licensing board.
According to the East Lothian Courier, currently, taxi fares in East Lothian start at £3 and increase by 20p for each additional 40 seconds of waiting time, every additional 146.5 yards or a combination of the two.
The new fares will start at £3.60 and increase by 24p – the 6pm-6am starting fare will be £4.80 and the Christmas and New Year fares will begin at £6 and increase by 48p.
This will be the first rise in the cost of fares since 2019.
At a meeting of the licensing committee on 9 November, members reviewed letters of support for the increase.
Councillor Colin McGinn, chair of the meeting, said: “I am pleased that we have had feedback from the consultation sent out to our taxi owners. It’s something that we’ve asked for time and time again and there has been a lack of responses on a number of papers. I would welcome more [responses] because we do need to consult.”
Councillor Jeremy Findlay questioned why there had been little response to previous consultations with taxi owners.
He said: “The 20 per cent increase is quite large. If taxi firms had come back to us in the past, then the increases could have been staggered up as opposed to us going for a full 20 per cent now.
“The onus is on the taxi operators to respond to these consultations.”
Councillors agreed unanimously to approve the increase with a starting date of February 1.
It was also agreed unanimously to update the conditions relating to taxi and private hire operators' licences.
The updates will mean zero emission vehicles presented for grant of a new licence will be no more than four years' old (since date of first registration) on the date when the licence is granted, while Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles presented for grant of a new licence will be no more than three years' old.
The updates will also mean that substitution or temporary vehicles will be no more than seven years old (since date of first registration) on the date when the substitution on the licence takes effect and will not be older than the vehicle to be replaced.
The updates came into effect from 9 November.
It was also approved that the maximum age of a taxi permitted to be used will be 12 years. This will come into effect in April 2025.
A Nottingham taxi driver has picked up three prizes, including a car worth £115,000, only two years after winning his first big prize with a competition firm.
NottinghamshireLive reports that Daniel Stanciu, 31, said he promised his wife that he would strike gold again when he entered BOTB’s Dream Car Competition.
He was still left questioning whether it was real when presenter Christian Williams knocked on his door to tell him he had landed a BMW M2, a family holiday to Disneyland Paris, and £50,000 in cash.
Visibly shaking, Daniel greeted Christian with a huge hug before declaring: “I can’t believe it!”
The win comes just two years after Daniel won an Audi RS3 Sportback worth over £50,000 and £20,000 with BOTB. He eventually opted to take the cash alternative to the car.
“My dreams have come true,” the father-of-two said. “My wife asked me why I was dreaming of winning again and I said to her I promise I’ll do it and here we are.”
Winning a new set of wheels couldn’t have come at a better time for Daniel, whose car broke down just two days before finding out he had won.
“I’m currently without a car and am unable to work at the moment,” the taxi driver said.
“I’m waiting for mine to be repaired so this is great timing.
The BMW M2 is an amazing car and I’m very excited about taking my two boys to Disneyland. The money will also come in handy, although I’m not sure what we’ll be doing with it yet.”
The 31-year-old added: “I was shaking and lost for words when I found out and it still hasn’t quite sunk in. I would recommend playing this competition because BOTB makes dreams come true.”
The BMW M2 features an i6 Turbo engine, 454bhp and a top speed of 155mph.
Christian said: “It was fantastic to be able to surprise Daniel with this huge prize. I loved the surprised look on his face when I appeared at his door, especially as this was his second time of winning.
"The car is a beast and I am sure the family will have an amazing time at Disneyland Paris.”
BOTB hands over the keys to a stunning dream car each week as well as a lifestyle prize. Winners have bagged Rolex watches, holidays and motorbikes in recent months.
The company was founded by William Hindmarch in 1999 in London and has given away a whopping £64m of cars so far.
To see Daniel’s reaction alongside a host of other lucky winners, head over to BOTB.com.
Source: https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/nottingham-taxi-driver-cant-believe-8897053
New laws introduced into Parliament last week (8 November 2023) will put safety at the heart of the roll-out of self-driving vehicle technology and position the UK as world-leaders of this exciting £42 billion industry.
As announced in the King’s Speech on Tuesday 7 November, the Automated Vehicles (AV) Bill will deliver one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks of its kind anywhere in the world for self-driving vehicles.
The Bill implements the recommendations of the review of self-driving vehicle legislation carried out by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission.
The new safety framework will ensure clear liability for the user, set the safety threshold for legal self-driving and establish an in-use regulatory scheme to monitor the ongoing safety of these vehicles.
The technology will also help make travel more convenient and accessible, improving the lives of millions of people who can not drive.
They can be used to better connect rural communities, improving access to essential services and reducing isolation. They can make last-mile delivery and long-haul freight services more efficient, reduce congestion and they can provide on-demand transport services.
Also in the King’s Speech was an announcement confirming that we will introduce a bill to tackle unlicensed pedicabs in London, and an update on rail reform.
Pedicabs are the only form of unregulated public transport in London. The new Pedicabs Bill will allow Transport for London to regulate them, improving safety on London’s roads and protect people who use them.
The draft Rail Reform Bill brings together measures that will deliver a simpler, better railway for all customers, including establishing Great British Railways.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
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.