It is not uncommon to lose a wallet on a night out after a few too many drinks but a taxi firm has pledged to help students get home safely, even if they don't have any money on them.
The Eastern daily Press reports that ABC Taxis is working with the Students' Union, at the University of East Anglia (UEA), to introduce its new "Safe Rides" programme.
The scheme will look to make sure that all students can get a lift home when it's dark, even if they don't have any money for the fare on them.
Students can book a journey with ABC Taxis, which is covered by the Students' Union.
The taxi firm will then contact students to arrange for them to come in and pay the fare back.
A spokeswoman from the UEA Students' Union said: "At the UEA, student safety comes first.
"We are proud to work with ABC taxis to provide this service for vulnerable students, especially when buses currently stop before midnight and can be unreliable in the evenings."
The service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, where students can phone ABC Taxis quoting 'University of East Anglia Safe Rides'.
A vehicle will then be sent out to stranded students and get them back on campus safely.
Chris Harvey, regional director for ABC Taxis, said: "Moving to a new area and starting university can be daunting, so we're here to support students in Norwich as they find their feet.
"Our emergency service will ensure they get home safe without worry over finding the fare."
As well as ABC Taxis, cab firms 5 Star and Courtesy are also taking part in the scheme.
Source: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23838307.uea-students-get-free-taxis-part-new-norwich-scheme/#
Police in Fenland are holding a free 'Business Against Abuse' training session for taxi companies and taxi drivers later this month.
The Wisbech Standard reports that the session will be held in Wisbech on October 26 and will showcase commitment to making taxis a safe space for women.
The training will cover several topics including:
Once a taxi driver is accredited, this can be advertised online and physically inside a business or taxi.
This can be done through stickers, lanyards and plaques which will be provided.
For more information and to sign up, contact nicky.peacock@cambs.police.uk
Source: https://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/23833924.wisbech-free-business-abuse-training-session/
A driver in Surrey has been fined £200 for taping leaves to their car’s number plate discovered after a police road safety team pulled them over for speeding.
SurreyLive reports that the vehicle was stopped on the A3 near Guildford when officers spotted the leaves, which had been positioned to hide number plate details.
The driver of the car was then issued two Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for the leaves in addition to a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for speeding.
Surrey RoadSafe - a partnership working between Surrey Police and Surrey County Council - posted: “There are times when camouflage is needed and can look good.
"Leaves attached to your number plate with double-sided tape is neither.”
It added: “Vehicle stopped A3, Guildford as still visible to Vanguard Road Safety Team while driving in excess of the speed limit.”
A spokesperson for Surrey Police confirmed the stop was made on Tuesday 3 October, in the early afternoon. They said: "The car was seen to be driven on the A3 northbound in excess of the speed limit and with the number plate partially covered. The vehicle was a Toyota Corolla."
The police spokesperson added: "The driver was not arrested. They received two fixed penalty notices - one for each number plate (£100 each) - and also a traffic offence report for speeding."
Source: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-driver-fined-leaves-taped-27848506
A row is continuing over claims that Pendle’s taxi trade is dragging its feet over improving vehicle safety checks and allegations that councillors are failing to press for improvements.
According to the Burnley Express, Labour Cllr Faraz Ahmad, chairman of Pendle Council’s taxi licensing committee, has rejected recent allegations from a Conservative councillor, Kieran McGladdery, who said taxi drivers and firms have made no positive suggestions towards improving vehicle safety.
The safety row escalated after Pendle’s taxi licensing committee recently gave taxi drivers and business owners “one more chance” to come up with ideas for change.
Cllr Kieran McGladdery said he was increasingly frustrated with the situation and concerned that a serious accident would happen involving a taxi and the public.
He claimed some taxi licensing committee meetings and another task-and-finish group had effectively been “pointless” because of the lack of progress.
Last year, when the Conservatives were in control at Pendle Council, he chaired a number of taxi meetings and the trade was given three extra months to come-up with new safety measures.
Speaking this week, Cllr Ahmad said “ I am disappointed but not surprised at Cllr McGladdery’s comments. During his tenure as chairman of the committee, he oversaw a rapid decline in taxi safety and his aggressive approach towards the taxi trade by not engaging with them on various matters led to a breakdown in communication.
"In fact, his draconian proposals were rejected by his own party leadership in a council meeting in March 2023.
“I am firmly committed to taxi safety in Pendle but this cannot be the council just blaming the trade. We have to work with everyone with a stake in this matter.
"I would encourage Cllr McGladdery to take a positive role and work with me and the committee.”
Earlier this year, a Pendle Council taxi report stated that 15 out of 16 vehicles stopped in Pendle during a safety spot-check failed to meet the required standards. Problems included oil leaks, which could have burst into flames, and missing wheel nuts.
Suggestions for improved vehicle safety have included requiring taxi drivers to use a mobile phone app to ensure routine car checks are done. But the app idea has been queried by some in the taxi trade.
Some want a paperwork option. But that is not like the app, which has technology to ensure different parts of a vehicle are actually checked, it has been said.
There has also been disagreement over the type of car inspections done by officials, such as MoT-type tests or other compliance tests.
Pendle’s political balance changed in this year’s May local elections, meaning committees have also seen changes. Now, Labour and the Lib-Dems are in control in a shared administration, and some important committee chairperson roles have changed, too.
A special Pendle Council taxi meeting is due to be held soon to look again at vehicle safety check issues and ideas.
A Cruise robotaxi was involved in a serious accident on Monday night, 2 October, in San Francisco after it ran over a pedestrian who had been struck by another vehicle first and thrown in front of the self-driving car.
Motor1.com reports that the woman was hospitalised and was in critical condition after being hit by a human-driven vehicle when crossing a street and then run over by the driverless taxi, which stopped on top of her as she screamed in pain, according to witnesses and investigators.
Footage of the shocking crash was shown to the San Francisco Chronicle by Cruise hours after the incident and it reportedly showed that the pedestrian was walking through the intersection just as the robotaxi and the other car got the green traffic light to enter the intersection.
In a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the General Motors-owned company said the woman was in the crosswalk, although the San Francisco Police Department said it could not immediately confirm that information.
"At approximately 9:30 pm on October 2, a human-driven vehicle struck a pedestrian while travelling in the lane immediately to the left of a Cruise AV.
"The initial impact was severe and launched the pedestrian directly in front of the AV," reads Cruise's statement.
"The AV then braked aggressively to minimise the impact. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene, and at the request of the police the AV was kept in place.
"Our heartfelt concern and focus is the wellbeing of the person who was injured and we are actively working with police to help identify the responsible driver."
A witness at the scene told investigators that he saw the other car cause the woman to fall over in the street and the robotaxi to strike her, according to video taken at the scene and posted live on social media by FiscoLive415.
Another witness saw the woman trapped underneath the Chevrolet Bolt EV-based Cruise car and heard her screaming. The witness tried to comfort her as they waited for first-responders.
San Francisco firefighters used the jaws of life to lift the car off the woman, who was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with "multiple traumatic injuries," according to SFFD Captain Justin Schorr.
Once the Cruise car sensed something underneath its rear axle, it stopped and turned on its hazard lights, Schorr said, adding that firefighters obstructed the sensors of the driverless car to alert the Cruise control centre.
As a result, representatives from Cruise responded to firefighters and "immediately disabled the car remotely."
Police spokesperson Robert Rueca said pedestrian safety is a “big concern for police on our streets whether it involves cars with drivers or autonomous vehicles.”
General Motors-owned Cruise has been involved in multiple incidents in recent months, culminating in an August 17 collision with a San Francisco fire truck that had its emergency lights on. This accident led to a request from the California DMV for Cruise to trim its fleet to no more than 50 vehicles during the day and 150 during the night.
It remains to be seen if this latest incident, the most serious so far, will have consequences for GM's self-driving car unit.
Source: https://uk.motor1.com/news/689824/cruise-robotaxi-runs-over-woman-hit-by-car/
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
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.