An unlicensed Torfaen taxi driver has been ordered to pay nearly £2,000.
According to the South Wales Argus, on Thursday 29 February, Kathryn Murphy from Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to driving a hackney carriage vehicle without the required council issued taxi driver’s licence.
She was discovered driving a hackney carriage vehicle on June 16 2023, without a taxi driver’s licence.
Appearing at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, Ms Murphy was fined £660 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £847.26, and a £264 victim surcharge amounting to a total of £1,771.26.
The prosecution followed an investigation by Torfaen Council’s Licensing Team.
Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive Member for Environment said: “The safety of our residents when using taxis is a top priority.
“Licensed drivers and vehicles go through rigorous checks to ensure they meet standards in place to protect the needs and safety of the public.
“Licensed taxis are provided with a council issued plate on the rear and door signs on each side.
"These are yellow for hackney carriage vehicles and green for private hire vehicles. Drivers who are licensed by the council are also issued with a badge.
"I would encourage anyone with information on unlicensed taxi drivers or unlicensed vehicles operating in Torfaen, to contact the council’s Licensing Team.
“The council will take action against those found to be breaking the law and putting the public at risk."
Almost 90 per cent of taxis and private hire vehicles failed a recent council safety check, a shocking email has revealed.
The Daily Echo reports that the 15 vehicles - eight private hire vehicles and seven hackney carriages were inspected by city council officials during a test on February 27.
According to the email sent to cab drivers by the council’s senior licensing officer, five were immediately suspended following the inspection – four taxis and one private hire vehicle.
The reason for the suspensions was 'mainly faults with tyres and warning lights' the email said.
One taxi union boss called the numbers 'alarming' and a senior city councillor has said it is taking action against the drivers and owners of the vehicles - especially repeat offenders.
In the email, the senior licensing officer told drivers: “This does not make for good reading and shows that we have to work harder to ensure a safe and compliant fleet.”
Another five private hire vehicles and three taxis failed due to 'more minor issues' involving 'bulbs, meters and tyres again!', the email said, and were given until Friday (March 1) to sort these out.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Cllr Eammon Keogh confirmed the 15 vehicles tested were chosen based on appearance, age and the date of their last test.
He said: "The results are disappointing and appropriate action is being taken against the drivers and proprietors who failed the test, especially any repeat offenders."
Perry McMillan, taxi driver and shop steward for Unite the Union said: “The findings are disappointing and as representatives, we will be telling drivers to make sure they’re checking their cars.”
Overall, only two private hire vehicles passed the compliance tests according to the email – and neither were 'clean sheets'.
"There was one advisory on driver's seat being fixed and the other had door sticker number which needed replacing and he will be attending the office for these," the email said.
Perry McMillan explained that many owners of private hire vehicles rent their cars to drivers and both parties needed to make sure the cars were checked.
He said: “Whether you’re a proprietor or a driver you need to be on the ball with making sure the cars are all checked up.”
Deputy Tory leader Jeremy Moulton said: "These statistics are on the face of it very concerning and I will be seeking assurance that the council is taking all appropriate measures in response and also considering if these findings suggest a need for more checks to be done.
"In particular the council should satisfy itself that it is only contracting with taxi firms with the highest standards for the provision of home-to-school transport."
Sam Shahid, founder of The Southampton Hackney Association, also weighed in.
He said: “There are 285 hackney carriages in the city and over 1,200 private hire vehicles in Southampton. There are bound to be some drivers who don’t follow the rules and they need to be found and punished.
“There will always be five per cent who don’t follow the rules but that doesn’t reflect all of the other drivers who check their cars regularly.”
He added: “You need in mind that the standards for drivers are very high in the city, compared to other regions.
“We have to have two tests a year, the cars can’t be older than nine years old and we need cameras as well.
"Other regions like Eastleigh and New Forest don’t, which means some cars are up to standards in other regions but not Southampton because of that."
Ali Haydor, GMB union representative for Taxi and Private Hire Trade said: "These results are indeed alarming and underscore the imperative need for all drivers to ensure their vehicles meet the required standards to provide safe and reliable transportation services to the public.
"The safety of passengers and the reputation of our city's transport services are of utmost importance.
"I'm confident that by collaborating closely with Licensing and the trade, we can collectively address and overcome the recent compliance results."
Source: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24164641.southampton-87-taxis-private-hires-failed-test/
Taxi drivers in Bournemouth have hit out at BCP Council over its “ridiculous” proposal for default 20mph speed limits across the conurbation.
The Daily Echo reports that cabbies have ridiculed the council and its leadership for its “pointless” idea which runs the risk of ‘slowing down jobs and pushing up fares’.
BCP Council is currently working on plans to roll out reduced speed limits, led by road safety portfolio holder Millie Earl.
Kevin Conroy, a taxi driver of 25 years, said the council should be focusing its attention on fixing the potholes “the size of craters” - but the authority would rather be “seen to be green”.
He added: “For safety it’s good, but it would make it more difficult and longer to do a straightforward job.
“For example, a trip to the station from Gervis Place could take five minutes usually, but with 20mph it could take eight minutes.
“I also don’t know how they would enforce it; you see bikes and scooters driving around much faster than that and they don’t catch them.”
Nebas Karin, a driver of 12 years, said he was in London recently where 20mph has been imposed and he said it is “too slow to drive on”.
“It will be a nightmare,” he said. “Fifteen-minute journeys would take 20 minutes, it will slow us all down.
“There are already too many things slowing us down on the roads and 20mph would just cause more problems.”
Meanwhile Mamad Bastani, who has been in the trade since 1992, warned fares could rise if journeys are taking longer to complete because of slower speed limits.
He said: “The point is at Bournemouth council there are five people who will make the decision for everybody else.
“At the end of the day, any idiot who will speed will do so regardless of what speed limit there is.”
Meanwhile driver Sadam added: “The council don’t listen to anybody. Whatever they want, they get. They need to fix the roads.”
Cllr Earl previously said the council is “keen to hear the views of the whole community” through a consultation.
But a report looking into 20mph has already been made, suggesting £149,000 will be needed for an initial roll out before residents have been consulted.
Last month, a Christchurch councillor said the process so far has been “backwards” because residents haven’t been consulted. Cllr Earl met with the 20 is Plenty group earlier this year.
An Echo poll in November showed 82 per cent of 2,871 people would not support a blanket 20mph speed limit, 17 per cent would and one per cent didn't know.
Cllr Earl said: “We have a 97.5 per cent chance of survival if you’re struck by a vehicle going 20mph compared to 80 per cent if you’re going at 30mph.
“That’s because the stopping distances are a lot shorter, we have a lot more control and it slows everything down.”
Source: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24160606.taxi-drivers-rubbish-20mph-limits-warn-fares-go/
An aggressive woman smashed a cabbie on the head with a bottle and her drunken boyfriend repeatedly punched him after a nasty Christmas Day argument turned violent.
According to HullLive, a fight broke out when the driver adamantly refused to drive the two passengers to where they wanted to go because he did not like their "attitude" when they got into his taxi, Hull Crown Court heard.
Millie Crockett, 21, and her then boyfriend, Kieron Marston, 23, both from west Hull, admitted assaulting the man, causing actual bodily harm, on Christmas Day in 2021.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that the cabbie collected a booking in the name of Crockett in east Hull. Crockett and Marston walked over to the taxi and slammed the door as they got in. There was an atmosphere that put the taxi driver on edge.
Marston's door was not closed properly and he slammed it again and said: "Just drive." The driver said: "I don't like your attitude. I am not taking you. I don't want you in my car. Get yourself another car."
Marston sprayed the driver on his head and shoulder with a large two-litre bottle of fizzy drink. He got out and started to swing punches at the driver, who pushed him back. Marston fell over.
Crockett punched him from behind and Marston pushed him over. The driver felt an injury to his head and blood started to pour from it. Crockett had hit him with a bottle. She and Marston left the scene.
The man drove to his taxi office in Holderness Road. He was bleeding heavily from cuts to his head and went to Hull Royal Infirmary. The injuries were stitched and glued. Crockett was later seen to have blood on her clothes and shoes.
During police interview, Crockett admitted being present at the scene but denied hitting the taxi driver with a bottle. Marston denied punching the man and denied any responsibility. He admitted spraying the drink but denied an assault.
The driver later said that he suffered physical exhaustion, shock and distress and blamed himself.
He had lost trust in customers and had a constant feeling of vulnerability, particularly at Christmas and had to take several months off.
He missed out on working New Year's Eve, which caused financial loss, and he suffered a range of negative emotions. The assault had left a lasting impact on his life and his loved ones.
Crockett had no previous convictions. Marston had convictions for domestic burglary and handling stolen goods in August 2018.
Crockett was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £300 compensation to the taxi driver.
Marston was given a nine-month suspended sentence and was told to pay £250 compensation.
They were each given 200 hours' unpaid work.
Source: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/hull-woman-smashes-bottle-over-9140684
A cab driver has spoken out against proposed taxi policy changes which he has suggested would wipe out the private hire industry.
The Salisbury Journal reports that Ringwood taxi driver and owner of Ringo Taxis, Philip Bristow, has spoken out against proposed policy changes from New Forest District Council that would require drivers to acquire new vehicles under five years old.
The policy aims to make vehicles more disability-friendly but Mr Bristow has warned the new policy could have the opposite effect and remove any cabs that are wheelchair accessible from the New Forest.
He said: "The New Forest some years ago didn't have enough disabled accessible vehicles on the road so the council turned around and said if you want to register a taxi, it has to be disabled friendly.
"That hasn't been a problem but now they're saying it has to be less than 10 years old and less than five years for all new petrol and diesel vehicles. I can't afford to do that."
Philip drives a London black cab which has been on the road since 2009.
While he and other private hire will be forced to change vehicles, those with historic plates are allowed to keep the same cab despite not being disabled friendly.
He said: "You've got Galleon Taxis, Brockenhurst Taxis, Ringwood, Red Express who are all well established and have 20 vehicles each. They're in a position to lease vehicles and get vehicles and they don't have to have disabled access which is crucifying the little guys.
"I've got friends who operates four taxis and he would have to replace every single one. You would lose 60% of taxis in Ringwood and quite a few of these companies would cease."
If passed the new policy would come into effect in 2026.
A spokesperson for NFDC said: "This proposal supports the council’s priorities on climate change and actions to improve air quality, as well as maintaining a high standard of vehicle fleet for our residents and visitors to the forest.
"This is a draft taxi licensing policy, and it is currently out for public consultation until April 15, 2024.
"We are therefore seeking views from stakeholders, the taxi trade and members of the public."
Source: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24159944.new-disability-policy-will-wipe-60-taxis/
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.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.
BYD, manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, designed to bring 100,000 new BYD EVs onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.