A North Wales council has slammed an unnamed taxi firm for sub-contracting school pick-ups.
Conwy County Borough Council said it was "unacceptable" for a contracted school transport provider to let another firm undertake the jobs.
NorthWalesLive reports that the council insisted there were no "safeguarding" risks as the subcontractors were "legitimate" and licenced firms and that all taxi drivers are subjected to police and DBS safety checks.
But concerns were raised that parents may not have known who had taken their children to and from school.
A council spokeswoman said: "We are aware that a school transport provider asked another operator to undertake some journeys.
"That operator was a legitimate firm, and as such there was no safeguarding risk to passengers."
She added: "However, this doesn't make it acceptable; the original contractor should have submitted a sub-contracting request as per the terms and conditions of their contract with Conwy County Borough Council.
"When such issues are reported, they are reviewed as a matter of course, as part of routine contract management."
Source: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/school-taxi-firm-slammed-sub-27966660
New rules for taxis in North Somerset could push people into debt, drivers have warned.
SomersetLive reports that the draft of the council’s new hackney carriage and private hire policy proposes introducing a “terminal limit” to ban cars that are more than ten years old from being used as taxis, and to refuse to grant taxi licences to cars that have been an insurance loss for any reason.
Current rules also allow a car to become a taxi as long as it is less than eight years old, but the new rules will mean a car can only be up to five years old when it is first licensed as a taxi. Vehicles will also need to meet the Euro 6 emissions standard.
The policy is set to go before North Somerset Council’s licensing committee on Tuesday October 31 and would come into effect from the start of 2024 if approved by full council.
Cabbies have slammed the “unrealistic” standards, and warned that the council will be “killing off businesses.”
Submitting comments during a public consultation on the plans, one driver said: “This draft will cause either extreme financial hardship or even force closure of our company and others, due to unrealistic policies, resulting in numerous people becoming unemployed.”
The current rules, which allow a car written off for an insurance loss under category S or N can still be licensed as a taxi if repaired and deemed safe, are set to the dropped under the new policy. But the driver said that a category N insurance loss could be “something as small as a small dent in a rear wing.”
They warned: “People cannot afford to replace their vehicle for something minor like this, you would be forcing people out of work and into debt.
“People and companies are only just starting to recover from the losses incurred, and this draft policy would cause further financial hardship, potentially killing off businesses and many self-employed individuals who simply cannot afford to buy newer! That coupled with the cost of living, it is not appropriate to bring rules and policies such as these into action at this time.”
One taxi driver with a vehicle that had previously been a category S insurance loss said he had worked hard to bring it up to standard. He said: “Altogether I have invested over £20,000 in purchasing this vehicle and getting it up to scratch to be able to be used as a private hire vehicle on the current rules, knowing over the next three to four years I would be able to claw back the money that has been invested in this purchase.
“From what I can read, if this rule comes into effect, my vehicle is going to be useless to me within the next six months.”
Other drivers warned that the difference between buying a seven year old vehicle and buying one made less than five years ago is “a big jump” and could set drivers back more than £10,000.
One private hire driver said: “My vehicle was seven years old when I bought it, but only had 29,000 miles on and in immaculate condition. It came with full Jaguar service history and only two owners. I appreciate not everyone is in the same boat, so I think it would be unfair to tarnish everyone with the same brush.
“My vehicle at the moment is in excellent condition, because I maintain and service it meticulously. So, I am hoping when the ten years comes round, the vehicle should breeze through any test or inspection you throw at it.”
If the proposed new rules are adopted, a car will no longer be re-licensed as PHV once it hits that age. The driver added that, with the introduction of a requirement for vehicles to meet Euro 6 standards, the policy will “weed out” older vehicles anyway.
At their meeting on October 31, North Somerset Council’s licensing committee will consider dropping the proposal to reduce the age limit of new vehicles to five years old and dropping the plan to stop licensing vehicles older than ten years.
The committee will also consider whether vehicles with a category S or N insurance loss should be refused re-licensing as taxis, or just refused a first licence if not previously used as a taxi.
The final version of the policy will go before a full session of North Somerset Council for adoption, and is intended to come into effect from January 1, 2024.
Source: https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/fears-new-somerset-taxi-rules-8857212
A woman and a man have been jailed for a robbery in Milton Keynes.
The MK Citizen reports that Stacey Theobald, 34, of Great Linford was sentenced to six years in prison at Amersham Crown Court on Friday 20 October.
A jury found Theobald guilty of one count each of robbery, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and breaching a criminal behaviour order, as well as two counts of assault on an emergency worker on 27 June after a six-day trial at the same court.
Charlie Scheel-Kruger, 29, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison at the hearing on Friday.
He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at the hearing on 27 June.
On 29 July 2021, a taxi driver, a man in his sixties, picked up Theobald, Scheel-Kruger and another woman and took them to Sandy Close, Great Linford.
When they arrived at around 3.30pm, Theobald threatened the driver with a knife while demanding money from him.
Scheel-Kruger then searched the centre console, stealing a small amount of cash and the victim’s taxi ID badge before they all made off. No one was injured.
At around 10.10am on 30 July 2021, officers attended Theobald’s address in Sandy Close to arrest her for the robbery the day before and she picked up a hammer and threatened the officers.
Again, no one was injured and officers arrested Theobald as well as Scheel-Kruger.
Officers took Theobald to Milton Keynes University Hospital after she said she was unwell. Between 30 July and 2 August 2021, she caused damage to hospital property and threw a packet of clinical wipes at a member of hospital staff, breaching a criminal behaviour order.
The order was made by Aylesbury Crown Court on 11 May 2021 for racially aggravated disorderly behaviour at the same hospital, which remains in force for five years.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Lisa McKinley said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the taxi driver so I am satisfied that Stacey Theobald and Charlie Scheel-Kruger have been brought to justice."
Autonomous carmaker Cruise must suspend its driverless taxi operations in California immediately, the state's motor vehicles regulators announced on Tuesday, 24 October.
"The California Department of Motor Vehicles has notified Cruise that the department is suspending the company’s autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing permits, effective immediately,” the state DMV said in a statement.
“The DMV has provided Cruise with the steps necessary to apply to reinstate its suspended permits, which the DMV will not approve until the company has fulfilled the requirements to the department’s satisfaction.”
The regulator said it has the right to pull back permissions when “there is an unreasonable risk to public safety.”
The suspension, which only applies to Cruise trips where no human safety driver is onboard the vehicle, follows an incident earlier this month, where a woman in San Francisco was struck by a human driver in a hit-and-run accident that propelled her into the path of a Cruise robotaxi.
“Ultimately, we develop and deploy autonomous vehicles in an effort to save lives,” Cruise said in a statement to ABC7.
“In the incident being reviewed by the DMV, a human hit and run driver tragically struck and propelled the pedestrian into the path of the AV. The AV braked aggressively before impact and because it detected a collision, it attempted to pull over to avoid further safety issues. When the AV tried to pull over, it continued before coming to a final stop, pulling the pedestrian forward.”
“Our thoughts continue to be with the victim as we hope for a rapid and complete recovery,” the company added.
The suspension is a major blow to Cruise, which is owned by General Motors.
Alongside Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, Cruise saw California, and in particular San Francisco, as a key testing ground of driverless taxi technology.
The companies both got permission from state regulators in August to conduct paid taxi services 24/7 without a safety driver in San Francisco, despite vigorous debate in the city over whether the AVs were safe enough to operate.
The rollout of robotaxis in San Francisco has been marred with problems. Driverless cars, in particular Cruise taxis, were accused of causing traffic jams and impeding first responders.
According to data Cruise shared with the state in August, between January and mid-July of 2023, Cruise AVs temporarily malfunctioned or shut down 177 times and required recovery, 26 of which such incidents occurred with a passenger inside, while Waymo recorded 58 such events in a similar time frame.
Meanwhile, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA), between April 2022 and April 2023, Cruise and Waymo vehicles have been involved in over 300 incidents of irregular driving including unexpected stops and collisions, while the San Francisco Fire Department says AVs have interfered 55 times in their work in 2023.
Last year, Cruise lost contact with its entire fleet for 20 minutes according to internal documentation viewed by WIRED, and an anonymous employee warned California regulators that year the company loses touch with its vehicles “with regularity.”
Since being rolled out in San Francisco, robotaxis have killed a dog, caused a mile-long traffic jam during rush hour, blocked a traffic lane as officials responded to a shooting, and driven over fire hoses.
Jeffrey Tumlin, San Francisco’s director of transportation, has called the rollout of robotaxis a “race to the bottom,” arguing Cruise and Waymo weren’t yet definitive transit solutions, and instead had only “met the requirements for a learner’s permit.”
Others have argued the introduction of driverless cars in San Francisco and beyond will further displace workers pushed out of the taxi industry by companies such as Uber and Lyft.
Souurce: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/california-cruise-gm-driverless-taxi-b2435296.html
Taxi fares are set to go up in Manchester with cabbies worried they will not be able to afford to make a living without a hike.
The M.E.N. reports that representatives from a number of unions for black cab drivers were present in Manchester Town Hall on Monday 23 October, as the Licensing Committee approved a fare increase.
They told the committee how prices had risen for both insurance and running costs, such as petrol and services.
The Unite Union, which was present at the meeting alongside other trade unions GMB, Airport Taxi Association and Manchester Hackney Association, said that reducing prices to match Uber was not an option as they provided the ‘gold standard service’ in the city.
Drivers are 'unable to make a proper living in the trade', which has led to the number of black cab drivers significantly reducing in the area, the committee heard.
The hikes will see:
It would mean the current price of a two-mile journey would increase from £7 to £8.20, or from £9.20 to £10.30 during the night-time or on a public holiday.
These prices were set at a previous meeting of the council’s executive committee and were put through a 14-day consultation, which gathered only five objectors - none of whom wanted to speak at the meeting on October 23.
The trade representatives stated that the majority of their members support the proposals - which will be implemented once the executive approves them at their next meeting.
Councillors at a previous meeting heard that the number of licensed drivers has reduced by 214 in the two years, and by a further 178 over the last 12 months.
The union representatives highlighted that these prices were necessary if the cabbies wanted to be able to make a living and afford to purchase new vehicles ready for the standards increase due to be implemented by 2026.
The new licensing policy for councils across Greater Manchester to be brought into force in 2026 would require drivers to have newer vehicles in order to improve emissions.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
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.