Two drivers have been spared jail after causing a fatal crash that killed a 70-year-old woman in Manchester.

Mohamed Mahamoud, 38, was speeding along Princess Road in Moss Side when he failed to stop at a red light. At the same time, 55-year-old cabbie Mahad Ciid made a dangerous lane change without checking his mirrors or indicating, before abruptly stopping at the lights. He had a passenger in the back of the cab at the time.

Mahamoud then ‘slammed on his brakes’, hitting the taxi in a glancing blow before veering onto the pavement and colliding with the traffic light.

Waiting at the lights was 70-year-old Joan Spence, a beloved great-grandmother, who was struck causing catastrophic head injuries. She sadly died despite the best efforts of paramedics.

Ciid, of Trafford, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, and Mahamoud, of Fallowfield, was found guilty of the same offence following a trial. 

Judge Hilary Manley criticised their reckless behaviour, stating that disobedience to road rules can lead to fatal consequences.

While the judge acknowledged the remorse shown by both defendants, she emphasised the seriousness of their actions.

Mahamoud received a 15-month suspended sentence and a two-year driving ban, while Ciid was given a six-month suspended sentence and a 12-month driving ban.

Both must complete five days of rehabilitation activity requirements.

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Taxi drivers in Argyll and Bute are being asked to give their views on potential fare increases, as the local council is set to review its current pricing structure.

The council's planning, protective services and licensing committee considered a report on the matter on October 23rd.

A letter will then be sent to all taxi operators week commencing on October 28 inviting their feedback by December 2nd.

A council spokesperson explained that the review is a legal requirement, and the new fare scale must come into effect by April 2025.

The last review, which took place in October 2023, saw little response from taxi drivers, leading to a decision to maintain the current fares.

Councillor Jan Brown said as the decision was made: “I feel that as it was a very poor response, I would be happy to leave the fares as they are. Most people who did respond wanted fares left as they were anyway.”

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Transport for London (TfL) has proposed increasing hackney carriage fares in London by up to 7.5% next year to help attract and retain drivers.

The proposed changes include a potential rise in the minimum fare, while drop-off charges at Heathrow Airport could rise from £5.20 to £6.

The consultation, which runs until December 2, outlines seven options ranging from a fares freeze to a 7.5% increase.

A 4.2% rise would cover the rising cost of running a cab, while a 7.5% increase would also account for inflation.

If approved, any increase would come into effect in April 2025 and would follow a 7.6 per cent rise in 2023 and an 8.9 per cent rise in April 2024.

The number of licensed taxi drivers in London has been declining, reaching its lowest point since the 1980s.

TfL’s consultation states: “We want to ensure that taxi drivers are able to cover their operating costs and are paid fairly for their work. This helps ensure that being a taxi driver remains an attractive career option."

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Taxi drivers in South Kesteven district have expressed outrage over a new rule requiring them to take an English language test, even if they are native speakers, unless they can provide evidence of a competent level of English competency in line with national guidance. 

The council introduced the measure in August following complaints from passengers about the 'level of English spoken by drivers'.

Initially, the rule only applied to new drivers, but it has now been extended to existing taxi drivers.

The test, which costs £46.50, is seen as unnecessary and burdensome by many drivers.

One driver, Barry Drake, who has been a taxi driver for 17 years, described the requirement as "humiliating" and "out of touch with real life issues."

He has created a Facebook group to rally other drivers against the change.

Other drivers have threatened to leave South Kesteven Council and switch to neighboring authorities.

Steven Newman and Peter Stanton both expressed frustration with the rule and the potential difficulties in obtaining proof of their English language qualifications.

South Kesteven District Council has defended the policy, stating that it is in line with national guidance and aims to ensure the safety and satisfaction of passengers.

A spokesperson said: “From 2021, this test was introduced only for new drivers. In the interests of equality and safety, the council has agreed to apply it to all drivers. There had been an online consultation before the rule was introduced.”

The council also emphasised that the test is only required if the driver cannot provide satisfactory evidence of their English language skills.

Despite the council's explanation, the taxi drivers remain opposed to the rule, arguing that it is unnecessary for native English speakers.

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Transport operator ComfortDelGro is acquiring Addison Lee, through its UK subsidiary, CityFleet Networks, for £269.1 million.

As the largest premium point-to-point operator in the UK, the addition of Addison Lee will extend the Group’s London footprint and grow its taxi and private hire network to more than 34,000 vehicles globally

On completion, the 7,500 drivers and 5,000 vehicles of the Addison Lee’s London-based network will complement CityFleet Networks’ existing private hire and black taxi fleets elsewhere in the UK including Liverpool, the Wirral, Chester and Aberdeen.

ComfortDelGro’s Managing Director / Group CEO, Mr Cheng Siak Kian said: “Addison Lee is an established leader in serving the differentiated premium segment in London.

"Beyond expanding our footprint in the UK, this acquisition will enable us to use Addison Lee’s expertise to deepen and scale our premium point-to-point capability globally. It will also strengthen our overall point-to-point proposition, creating strong synergy with our existing businesses.”

This acquisition will further grow the Group’s presence in the UK. In addition to operating CityFleet Networks in several locations across the UK, ComfortDelGro provides pre-planned and on-demand ground transportation to businesses, as well as private and ride-share transfers to airports, bus and train stations and ports through its recently acquired business, CMAC.

The Group also owns and operates Metroline buses and Westbus coaches in London, Adventure Travel buses and coaches in Wales, as well as the Megabus, Scottish Citylink and Irish Citylink inter-city coach services.

Mr Liam Griffin, CEO of Addison Lee said: “Over the last four years, ComfortDelGro has demonstrated its deep knowledge of the business, and a clear understanding of our customers’ and drivers’ needs. This, alongside the strength and heritage of the Addison Lee brand, has positioned us perfectly for further expansion into the premium segment.

"ComfortDelGro is a perfect complementary fit for us. They share our philosophy, vision, and ambition for the Addison Lee brand and bring significant international industry expertise to the business.”

Prior to the acquisition, Liam Griffin and his team led a consortium that restructured the business and ensured it successfully weathered the pandemic before delivering strong growth and a return to healthy profit.

He, along with the current key management will remain at the firm following the acquisition to drive the next phase of its growth.

ComfortDelGro Chairman, Mr Mark Greaves said: “This acquisition is in line with our strategy to expand the Group’s point-to-point mobility portfolio. We will use Addison Lee’s strong brand, customer base and reliable premium driver network to continue creating great journeys for our customers and the communities we serve – a commitment that we hold true across our businesses.

"With 90 per cent of their existing fleet already made up of cleaner energy vehicles, this will help accelerate our fleet transition journey.”

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