The retrospective financial support scheme for Sheffiled residents and businesses who have already upgraded their most-polluting vehicles is now live.
SheffNews reports that the scheme is open to those who have already replaced a polluting vehicle, which would have been charged in the Clean Air Zone (CAZ), for a low emissions vehicle.
This vehicle must have been purchased after October 26, 2021, when the decision to introduce a CAZ was formalised, and before the launch of the retrospective scheme on May 9, 2023.
Further details about the scheme, eligibility criteria, how much may be available to an applicant and a breakdown of who is unable to apply for financial support can be found on the Sheffield City Council website: https://bit.ly/44RivMF
The retrospective scheme will be open to applications for a period of eight weeks and will close on Thursday 29 June at 11.59pm.
Applications for the retrospective scheme will be treated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Vehicle owners of older non-compliant vehicles, based in Sheffield and Rotherham, who have yet to upgrade their vehicle can still apply for financial support to upgrade or replace a vehicle to meet Clean Air Zone standards: https://bit.ly/3LXtxHx
To be eligible for support, applications must be submitted to and approved by the CAZ team prior to ordering or purchasing of the CAZ compliant vehicle.
Local exemptions for Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and Hackney Carriage vehicles until June 2023 are ending soon.
From Monday 5 June, charges will apply to enter the CAZ unless the vehicle is compliant or has an alternative exemption, e.g. has a compliant vehicle on order and is waiting delivery.
Source: https://sheffnews.com/news/clean-air-zone-retrospective-financial-support-scheme-now-open
Police are investigating after a dangerous handmade spiking device was left menacingly at taxi ranks across Stratford-upon-Avon.
CoventryLive reports that the makeshift weapon, a strip of masking tape lined with five sharp spikes, has shredded tyres on several licensed hackney carriages.
Its presence also presented a public safety risk and is now being investigated by Warwickshire Police after the shocking discovery was flagged by officials from Stratford-on-Avon District Council.
A spokesperson said: "Stratford-on-Avon District Council's licensing team has been made aware of a handmade spiking device that has been placed on the taxi ranks in Stratford-upon-Avon.
"The device has caused damage to tyres on licensed hackney carriage vehicles and is a severe danger to the safety of pedestrians as well as vehicles.
"Warwickshire Police is aware and is asking if any device is seen or found to report it by dialling 101.
"If anyone is seen placing items like this on the ground attempting to cause damage to other vehicles, then please call 999."
Source: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/several-tyres-slashed-handmade-spiking-26900602
Action could be taken to address issues caused by private hire drivers working for multiple apps or operators at once, but councillors have said there is no simple solution.
The South Wales Argus reports that the Welsh Government is consulting on new legislation covering taxi and private hire vehicles including the possibility of minimum national standards for the trade, which is currently subject to local regulations, and new powers for licensing authorities.
A white paper, which sets out rules and standards the government thinks it should introduce, has asked if it should address “the negative consequences of ‘multi-apping’” which is the term used to describe drivers working for multiple app-based booking systems, or operators, at the same time to increase their potential for fares.
The government says the practice has resulted in passenger journeys being delayed and or cancelled and that complaints about cancelled bookings are now “common” as drivers may show themselves as available for hire on one app while having already accepted a booking on another, and sometimes cancelling bookings for more lucrative ones from another app.
It also says a “risk to passenger safety can arise” from cancelled bookings.
Torfaen Borough Council’s licensing committee discussed the white paper, and how it should respond, and Abersychan councillor Lynda Clarkson said: “Multi-apping does seem to be a problem occurring more often now and people are waiting longer.”
But the Labour councillor said she struggled to see how the council could enforce the government’s suggestion a driver’s freedom to use more than one operating app at once should be limited. Instead she said the council should back the other suggested option of holding operators to account for cancelled bookings.
Cllr Clarkson said licensing staff could then look to see if multi-apping was the cause of the cancellations.
“The drivers are trying to maximise their potential to have work and maybe working for food deliveries as well as a taxi,” said the councillor.
Cwmbran independent councillor Elizabeth Haynes suggested restricting work drivers are able to do may be necessary in some of Wales’ larger cities but questioned if it was practical in smaller areas.
She said: “It may be that some drivers need to be multi-apping to earn a decent living.”
A report to the committee confirmed there had been complaints of drivers arriving late, or failing to turn up for bookings, in the last quarter of 2022 and first quarter of 2023 in Torfaen along with allegations of overcharging and general poor service.
The government also wants opinions on how it should tackle drivers who are licensed in England, where it says standards may be lower, but mainly carry out pre-booked work in Wales.
It has suggested that private hire drivers, firms and vehicles that operate wholly or mainly in Wales must be licensed by a Welsh council so they meet the Welsh national minimum standards and that would allow English-based drivers to still carry out work in Wales provided most of their bookings take place in England.
The government favours this approach rather than preventing those based in England from taking bookings that start and finish in Wales.
Councillors agreed the Welsh Government’s suggestion “seems to be the most deliverable” though the government itself has noted determining where the majority of an operator’s work takes place “may be challenging”.
A register of drivers who’ve had their taxi licences revoked or suspended or applications refused, which is already in use in Torfaen, could also be made mandatory across Wales.
Llanfrechfa and Ponthir councillor Karl Gauden said he thought making its use a requirement for all 22 local authorities is “really important”.
The Labour member said: “We do need to do that particularly in south east Wales where authorities are very close together. Someone could be refused for perfectly legitimate reasons in Newport, we do not want them chancing their arm in Torfaen.”
Councillors were also asked how the take up of zero emission vehicles could be encouraged and whether there should be a deadline for switching to electric cars.
Cllr Clarkson said she preferred the option of an age limit to give drivers and firms a transition period though Llantarnam independent David Thomas said as the council and Welsh Government have declared a climate emergency the authority should back setting a deadline for the switchover.
Councils, drivers and passengers have until June 1 to respond to the consultation: https://www.gov.wales/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-wales-bill-white-paper
Flying taxis or passenger transport drones are sustainable mobility models that several European countries are considering and dozens of prototypes are being tested across the globe.
But in Spain, air taxis are now a reality and the company NextNorth is preparing to offer flights in the Balearic Islands after testing out the technology at the Qatar World Cup.
EuroWeekly News reports that the flights will be internal, costing 90 euros per passenger and will connect the islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca. It is an alternative to using air routes, boats and roads.
But because the flights will operate outside conventional airports and aerodromes, NetxNorth needs a mandatory authorisation from the European Union Agency for Aviation Safety (EASA) and this said Spokesperson for NetxNorth, Gonzalo Grandes, will be achieved in 2024.
The objective of flying taxis is to revolutionise short-haul aviation, offering a form of air travel that allows the public to save up to 80% of the journey time, on the same island or eventually between islands, by booking flights through this company.
NextNorth’s aircraft are state-of-the-art eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) and are far more environmentally friendly than traditional forms of air mobility since they don’t use jet fuel.
The company promises that they are comfortable and silent, as well as being fully electric.
Passengers travelling across the Balearic Islands will be able to book out an entire air taxi for their own use or rideshare, and customers will be able to book their seats on a number of trips.
The final step for NextNorth before the flying taxis take to the air in Spain is to send up passengers in helicopters to determine the best routes and locations, offering a “mobility alternative to some of the land and sea routes.”
As the routes get up and running, another company, Bluenest, will begin building veriports and logistics lockers on the islands, which will connect the new aircraft with ground mobility.
The driverless taxis ferrying passengers throughout San Francisco are a technological marvel and also sometimes a nuisance.
In February, a robotaxi operated by Waymo (an Alphabet company) stumbled onto the scene of a fire caused by an explosion and wouldn’t get out of the way, news outlet Mission Local reported.
Police officers shouted and did everything they could think of to ensure the electric Jaguar didn’t roll over a fire hose laying across the road, body-cam footage obtained by the outlet shows.
“It doesn’t know what to do!,” one officer standing in front of the confused car shouts across the intersection to the officer wearing the camera.
“I’ll pop a flare,” the second officer says, hoping that the billowing smoke will keep the taxi from driving forward over the water line.
“No! You stay!,” he shouts as he places the burning flare on the ground in front of the Waymo’s bumper.
After the officers turn away, the taxi starts inching forward again, eliciting an expletive from one officer.
One goes to block its path while the other radios to the dispatcher, asking if they can contact Waymo for help.
“Got a bit of a pickle. I got an autonomous vehicle, the Waymo, it’s inching slowly and closely to one of the main water lines that the SF Fire just charged. Can’t run it over,” he says.
“I don’t trust this AI.”
After speaking with a Waymo rep through the car’s speakers, one officer gets the car shifted into park.
A few minutes later, someone shows up to rescue the car and drives it away.
A Waymo spokesperson told Insider that the company has improved its tech in the three months since the incident happened.
“We work closely with public safety officials to ensure the safe introduction of our technology in every market that we operate in. As part of the training, Waymo outlines best practices, shares its first responder guide and provides a phone number to reach Waymo directly in the event of a stop,” the spokesperson said.
Waymo operates autonomous taxis in San Francisco and Phoenix, and customers can hail rides through an app.
As impressive as they are, the driverless taxis on roads today still have trouble reacting to unusual situations like blocked streets or commands from first responders.
A recent viral Tik Tok video: https://bit.ly/41qOeBC shows a police officer repeatedly gesturing for a Waymo taxi to pull over.
Everyone inside the car laughs while trying to tell the officer they aren’t in control of the vehicle.
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
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.