The Caribbean for cheaps: Late August flights to Dominican Republic from £297rtn

Drop everything Pirates, because TUI have done it again. They've dropped their prices on a limited number of flights to the Dominican Republic, with departures in August. Jet off from either London, Manchester or Birmingham, you can fly direct to Punta Cana to soak up the late summer sun in the Caribbean! Because there are… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Cyprus family half board break 4nts from £351pp - incl. hotel & flights

Arrr pirates! Head to Cyprus this November to enjoy some well-deserved winter sun with a stay at the elegant and top-rated 5* Annabelle Hotel in Paphos. Here you will be surrounded by tropical gardens and waterfalls overlooking the sea and the beach is just a short walk away. This holiday has availability throughout the season… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Give us Sitges: 3nts Autumn break in 5* luxury from £199pp incl. 5* hotel & flights

Pirates, hit up the quirky coastal town of Sitges in sunny Spain with 3 nights in luxurious accommodation from £199pp including the 5* Dolce Sitges & flights. Sitges is famous for its nightlife, gay bars, welcoming vibe and pleasant climate, so it's a great destination at a decent price. Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Caribbean 7 night cruises from £309pp: See Dom Rep, St. Kitts & more incl. full board & drinks

Cruise the Caribbean this winter with this fantastic deal we've discovered on our cruise finder. You'll spend 7 nights sailing from Dominican Republic to St. Kitts, Martinique and more on the deluxe ship Costa Pacifica, with its 4 swimming pools, outdoor waterslides and luxury Samsara Spa. Prices start from just £309 per person, based on… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Iconic New Yorker 4nt trip from £378pp (4-share) or £449pp (2-share) - incl. flights & 4* hotel

Grab your squad for the holiday of a lifetime, staying at the 4* New Yorker hotel in Midtown and with return flights, for as little as £378 per person, based on 4 sharing. A deposit of just £79pp secures this amazing deal. Couples can also travel from £449 per person, based on 2 sharing, and… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

More Complaints From Uber Drivers About Low Wages, In The Face Of Uber’s Anti Slavery Pledge

 

Uber drivers say their take-home pay is being cut as the taxi industry disruptor responds to pressure from new entrants in the increasingly crowded "ride-share" market.

The Silicon Valley giant introduced "upfront pricing", which gives passengers the exact cost of their ride ahead of the journey, and launched a service called UberPool, which allows passengers travelling in the same direction to share a ride for a discounted rate.

Uber says the two initiatives are intended to grow its user numbers, which will help its "driver partners" to be successful. 

But drivers said the result has been they take home less pay for doing the same amount of work and have announced a two hour strike on Monday morning as part of the push for better conditions.

"Rates are already too low and unsustainable, leaving drivers with very little profit and well below minimum wage take-home pay," said Max B, an Uber driver who runs the advocacy group RideShare Drivers United.

"Now they have this to boot, a system that exploits them even more."

The group is calling for drivers to log-off the Uber system en masse from 7am until 9.30am on Monday, August 6.

Max B, who would not reveal his last name for fear of being "deactivated" by Uber, told Fairfax Media the shift to "upfront fares" saw drivers’ pay rates drop between 10 to 30 per cent, while drivers were losing up to 40 per cent on UberPOOL trips.

Like a traditional taxi meter, Uber now calculates the fare based on the trip’s distance, and time taken, but with current traffic conditions it’s almost impossible to give an exact estimate especially with the uncertainty of the Sat-Nav rout taken. It also crunches data from past trips but rarely gives an estimate anywhere near the final cost. 

Source : shm.com

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT : 

The irony from this company is beyond belief 👀

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Majorca all inclusive group getaway from £283pp - 7nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Pirates, Love Island may be over but Majorca is still a hot place to be, we have found this awesome all inclusive holiday staying for a week in the sun. The all inclusive Majorca holiday is based on 3 sharing but you can also travel as a couple for just £323 per person! Holiday details… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Mass shooting Uber driver looks to suppress statements in court

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An Uber driver who went on a mass shooting spree in 2016 is to have his statements to police supressed in court.Jason Dalton is standing trial for the killing of six people, Tyler Smith, Rich Smith, Mary Jo Nye, Mary Lou Nye, Judy Brown and Barbara Hawthorne in Kalamazoo, USAHe is also accused of injuring Tiana Carruthers and Abigail Kopf in the same incident, which took place on February 20th 2016. At Michigan Court of Appeals, Dalton's lawyer had argued that because Dalton had repeatedly invoked his right to remain silent and also repeatedly requested an attorney, any statements Dalton had made to police should be suppressed.The prosecutions counter-arguement centred around the fact that because police were acting under an emergency, a public safety exception to the Dalton's Miranda Rights ensued. This was so as to be able to determine the extent of the crimes which had been perpetuated, therefore any statements which Dalton had made would admissible. The appeal, which was heard on the 10th July 2017 by a three judge panel decided in the defences favour.The prosecution is currently reviewing the courts decision and its own legal position surrounding the case.Dalton failed in an attempt to plead insanity, and was deemed fit enough to stand trial.

August 01, 2018 at 03:15PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Morocco 5* autumn beach break 4nts from £296pp - incl. resort, flights & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! Next up: some Moroccan autumn sun. You will be staying next to the beach in Agadir at the sleek 5* Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay offering dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean, 2 outdoor pools (one of which is heated), several dining and drinking options and a spa. And for those who prefer to… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* All Inclusive Crete holiday 7nts from £399pp - incl. flights & hotel

Ahoy mateys! We've found a few dates left at the top-rated 5* Blue Marine Resort & Spa in Crete for a luxurious family autumn getaway with all inclusive. This resort boasts a selection of pools, a spa and 4 restaurants amongst other things but there's only limited availability left so go, go, go! Holiday… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Stunning 4* Fuerteventura all inclusive hotel stay from £71pppn (flights from £58rtn) Aug - Dec

Pirates, we all know that the only way is all inclusive but sometimes it's hard to find that perfect fusion of luxury and great value for money. That's why we're bringing you this amazing hotel in Fuerteventura! The 4* R2 Bahia Playa is an adults only accommodation that offers an all inclusive board as standard… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

4* Mykonos late season getaway from £286pp - 7nts hotel, breakfast & flights

Ahoy, why not head out to Mykonos this October on this awesome getaway we have come across on our cool holiday finder. The gorgeous getaway to Greece is a really great price as staying in this same hotel in August is over £1000 more each! Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights (longer or shorter stays… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to Melbourne, Australia from just £508rtn - incl. luggage & meals

Pirates, The Only Way is Melbs with these fantastic Australia flights we came across in our Flights Finder. For this price you'll be jetting off to Melbourne, Australia's hippest city and a fine base for exploring the rest of the country. We've seen availability between October and November 2018, as well as February and April… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flash Sale! Budget UK hotel rooms from just £7.50pp

It's time for another bargain hotel sale pirates! Now it's easyHotel getting in on the action, offering budget hotel rooms for this low price. Take a buddy and you'll be staying for just £7.50 each! easyHotel has properties in London, Birmingham, Newcastle & more UK cities. You can find limited rooms at the promotional rate… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The Inclusive Transport Strategy: Government publish vision to accessible taxi & PH sector

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The Government has published its Inclusive Transport Strategy. What does it mean for the taxi and private hire sector?

Increased enforcement activityMandatory disability awareness training for licensed driversIncreased adoption of designated listsRanks and infrastructure changes

The strategy

The strategy builds on the responses received to the 2017 consultation on a draft Accessibility Action Plan, and sets out how the Government will deliver the necessary changes to transport networks, both through government interventions and working in partnership with industry and others.

Increased number of WAVs

The strategy is clear that it will be looking to licensing authorities to use their licensing powers to improve accessible taxis & private hire in their areas.

It sets out the steps the Department is taking to encourage local licensing authorities to increase the numbers of wheelchair-accessible taxis and private hire vehicles…

This Strategy should help ensure that authorities not only use the powers available to them to ensure that taxi and PHV services not only comply with the legal requirements but that these services meet the needs of passengers more consistently.

Increased enforcement

The strategy set out plans for “Better enforcement of statutory regulations, for example, the carriage of assistance dogs in taxis and private hire vehicles.”

We will undertake research to identify why the risk of fines and the loss of a driver’s licence appear insufficient in some circumstances to prevent them from discriminating against assistance dog owners. We will use evidence from this work to support any further action that we may take in this area to ensure that assistance dog owners are able to travel by taxi and PHV free from the fear of discrimination.”

Mandatory training for licence holders

The Government will mandate disability awareness and equality training for drivers.

By end of 2019, publish for consultation revised best practice guidance to support local licensing authorities (LLAs) to use their existing powers more effectively. In particular we will recommend that authorities require taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training, make it simple to report discrimination and take robust action against drivers alleged to have discriminated against disabled passengers.

Do everything in our power to ensure that local licensing authorities make full use of their existing powers, including recommending that driver disability equality and awareness training be mandated in licensing policies.

Designated lists

There is likely to be an increase in the number of licensing authorities who will be adopted designated WAV lists that will place additional statutory duties on licence holders.

By autumn 2018, we will write to all local licensing authorities stressing the importance of supporting an inclusive taxi and PHV fleet and ask those authorities who have not already done so to publish lists of vehicles designated as wheelchair accessible under Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010. We will continue to monitor the proportion of WAVs within overall taxi and private hire vehicle fleets, as reported in the annual DfT taxi and PHV statistics,66 and to seek clarification from authorities as to the steps they are taking to assess and respond to the local need for such vehicles. As a first step we have published a list of the highest performing Local Licensing Authorities in terms of the proportion of WAVs in their fleet.

We will also publish a list of those authorities which do, and do not, publish lists of WAVs, to share best practice. If the number of authorities publishing these lists does not increase significantly, we will consider amending the Equality Act to mandate local licencing authorities to publish lists of wheelchair accessible vehicles in their local areas.

Ranks and infrastructure

Taxi ranks and public realm changes may become a feature of the future.In the longer term we want the service currently provided by taxis and PHVs to be as accessible to disabled passengers as it is for those who are not disabled. This should mean not only that vehicles are sufficiently accessible to provide for people with a range of access needs, but that the means of hiring them is accessible, that passengers can be picked up or dropped off at a location convenient to them, and that no disabled person is ever left at the kerbside or charged extra for their journey. We also want LLAs to understand their role in helping this to happen, both through the licensing system and through other areas of influence, such as traffic management.

When?

From autumn 2018, publish data on an annual basis on the proportion of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs in local areas;From autumn 2019 publish on an annual basis a list of those authorities which we know to have issued a list of taxis and PHVs designated as being wheelchair accessible in accordance with Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010;By end of 2019, publish for consultation revised best practice guidance to support local licensing authorities (LLAs) to use their existing powers more effectively.Continue to encourage local licensing authorities, which have not already done so, to publish lists of taxis and PHVs designated as wheelchair accessible under Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010, and to inform the Department that they have done so.

August 01, 2018 at 09:37AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Stephen McCaffrey THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter escape: 5* Malta family break 4nts from £266pp - incl. Hilton hotel, half board & flights

Ahoy mateys! You know we love a good Hilton hotel, and this time we've spotted some great rates over at the top-rated 5* Hilton Malta in St. Julian's boasting enviable sea-views, 4 outdoor pools, 2 paddling pools for children and a spa with indoor swimming pool! We opted for winter rates for this holiday with… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cool Croatia 4* holiday from £268pp - 7nts aparthotel, breakfast & flights (departing in September)

Pirates, summer is in full swing right now, so how about a cool holiday in Croatia to look froward to! We have come across this holiday in Croatia departing in September for 7 nights staying in a 4* hotel next to the beach. There are a choice of airport to fly into, scroll down and… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Come Fly With Me… Rolls Royce and Aston Martin Flying Taxis Unveiled

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This month, both Rolls Royce and Aston Martin have unveiled their flying taxis, seemingly ready to take to the skies within the next two to five years. Now, this feels a little bit “Back to the Future”… and could transform the taxi and chauffeur industry, but also simply the way we live our lives.Driving… in the sky

Congestion, pollution, never-ending roadworks and potholes… professional drivers have to suffer these on a daily basis. The driving experience itself has changed tremendously over the past few decades: more and more cars are automatic, making the satisfaction of changing gears and mastering the art of finding that precise point on the clutch, getting the engine roaring and tyres screeching, a thing of the past. The noises and smells associated to vehicles are starting to go, too… engines are being replaced by battery cells: no more oil, petrol, or tinkering with nuts and bolts. And with the latest electric or hybrid vehicles emitting wheezing or gliding noises, no more starter motor clicking or exhaust backfiring… One could argue that this is the end of an era. But what if the whole “driving on the road” experience was to disappear altogether? What if your driver’s licence was to be converted into a pilot one? Rolls Royce and Aston Martin are the latest of a number of companies that have been working on flying objects destined to ease congestion on the road, and this feels like the future is coming. Soon.

Rolls Royce: EVTOL hybrid flying taxi

Unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow earlier this month, the “EVTOL” (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing ) project is certainly impressive: this hybrid vehicle is extremely quiet and could transport four to five passengers at speeds of 250mph for up to 500 miles without being recharged. Using gas turbine technology to power an electric battery, EVTOL produces fewer emissions than petrol and diesel cars. And thanks to its wings that rotate to 90 degrees, the Rolls-Royce flying taxi can take off or land vertically – making it potentially usable even in crowded urban areas.

The company announced that EVTOL could take to the skies as soon as the early 2020s, and that, as well as a taxi, it could also be deployed for personal, cargo and military use.

Aston Martin’s Volante Vision

Also revealed at the Farnborough Airshow, and looking straight out of a sci-fi movie, Aston Martin’s design is certainly striking. Powered by a hybrid-electric engine with autonomous technology built into its systems, the Volante Vision can accommodate three people on board, and like Rolls-Royce EVTOL, is able to take off and land vertically, thanks to a horizontally mounted turbo-prop at the back and two pairs of propellers at the front – attached to the Y-wing at the front. The Volante Vision is built with autonomous navigation, and information will project onto the all-glass cockpit canopy.

These may seem very futuristic and will probably prove rather costly to acquire. But what a way to travel, and deliver passengers! Of course, with autonomous designs, one can ask the question about the future of professional drivers. But if this was to become the means of transport for the masses, one can safely assume that only a happy few would be able to purchase their own flying vehicle, while most of us would enjoy them only when booking a taxi or ordering a “car” to go somewhere. And of course, the next question will be: won’t congestion on the roads be replaced by overcrowded airspace? Now, a number of companies have been working on flying taxi concepts – including Uber, who announced in May this year that their “Uber Elevate” concept may be ready by 2023, in a bid to ease congestion on the roads. So the battle of the skies may start very soon; it could transform the industry, and beyond that the way we live our lives, commute and travel fundamentally.

August 01, 2018 at 08:56AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Plan Insurance THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Peak District August staycation: Timber cabin w/ hot tub access from £26pppn based on family of 4

Pirates, if you're looking for a last minute getaway for a night or two with the family that won't break the bank, then turn your heads towards the Riddings, near the Peak District, and Riddings Wood Lodges. These cute timber lodges offer everything you need for a simple, comfortable stay with the kids. Some lodges… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Scrap the MOT says Conservative think tank report

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Motorists are forking out over £250m a year on MOT test fees and unnecessary repairs, a new report by the Adam Smith Institute argues. Twenty thousand garages throughout Great Britain provide the MOT service, which costs drivers up to £29.65 for motorcycles and £54.85 for cars, with the average fee coming in at £33.60. But on top of the initial fee, the average driver will pay £143 in small repair costs (including backlighting of dashboards and speedometers) before the vehicle is ready to pass inspection. Yet, the Adam Smith Institute argues, much of this cost is unnecessary. The MOT is outdated and fails to target the main cause of vehicle accidents. New research by Alex Hoagland (the report’s author) and Trevor Woolley found that MOT-style vehicle tests are unneeded. In a statistical analysis, the researchers found that when Washington D.C and New Jersey abolished their inspections (D.C in 2009 and N.J. 2010) on either the rate or severity of accidents due to mechanical failure, suggesting tests were ill-effective at increasing car safety. The main culprit of car accidents in both the US and the UK is driver error. Over 65% of accidents in the UK are caused by driver behaviour including: speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and not using a seatbelt—none of which an annual MOT test can prevent. But cars are becoming smarter and safer, and accidents are directly declining as a result, the report argues. In Great Britain road accident fatalities have dropped by about 57% in the last ten years alone, from 3,172 in 2006 to 1,792 in 2016. These reductions track the introduction of new cars with better safety features into the UK suggesting that safety of new car models, rather than the MOT test, is driving the reduction in safety.

Just 2% of road accidents are caused by mechanical faults in the UK. The same rate as in the majority of US states that no longer require vehicle safety inspections. On January 1st, 2018 Utah became the 34th US state to scrap the requirement. In 2015 a US Federal Government report compared crash rates between US states and found no evidence that mandatory safety testing reduced traffic fatality rates.

When the MOT test was introduced in the UK in the 1950s many cars on the road were second-hand and manufactured prior to 1940. Many had defects and hadn’t been serviced since their initial sale. The Ministry of Transport required an annual test of vehicles older than 10 years for steering, brakes and lighting. This quickly spiralled down to cars older than 3 years with extra testing on emissions added in the 1990s. But while safety features have been on the rise the test’s core components have remained unchanged. While campaign groups like the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents continue to push the idea that recent declines in vehicle crashes and casualties in Great Britain were thanks in part to the MOT system, most recently in a government consultation in 2018, recent statistical analysis has shown these claims to be on shaky ground. Hoagland and Woolley highlight the repeal of mandatory inspections in New Jersey which had little—if any—effect on the car failures of fatalities rate, and that annual safety inspections have no effect on reducing either the rate of severity of accidents due to mechanical failures. The paper suggests a number of reforms that the government could pursue to save Britons millions in garage fees and unnecessary part replacements, including:

Scrapping the MOT test altogether for all vehicles, except vehicles older than 3 years entering the United Kingdom from abroad.Reducing the rate of vehicle safety inspections from annually to a less frequent interval (e.g., every 3 or 5 years).Increasing the testable age of new vehicles from 3 years to 5 years (or more).Separating the MOT into two tests: one less frequent test for vehicle safety inspection, the other testing only carbon emissions.Focusing more resources on campaigns intended to reduce travelling without a seat belt, speeding, and/or substance abuse while driving.Dedicate additional resources to the development and testing of driverless vehicles to remove driver-related accident factors.

Alex Hoagland, author of the paper, said: “The UK has required MOT testing for decades, in order to prevent crashes and fatalities from unreliable vehicles. Nowadays, vehicles are safer than ever, leading some governments to re-inspect these programs. When these safety inspections were done away with in some US states, accident rates did not change. There’s no evidence that vehicle safety inspections improve vehicle safety.” Sam Dumitriu, Head of Research at the Adam Smith Institute, said: “MOT Tests are meant to prevent crashes and save lives, but they’ve never been put to the test themselves. New evidence from the US found that scrapping similar mandatory vehicle safety inspections had no impact on crash rates. Evidence, not gut feeling, should guide policy.”

However, not everyone agrees with the report. Many motorist groups believe driving down standards could be detrimental to the British public.

Reacting to suggestions by the thinktank the Adam Smith Institute that the MOT should be scrapped, RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “Scrapping the MOT would be a huge backward step and a recipe for disaster. It would mean drivers would no longer have to do anything routinely to check their vehicles are safe which could lead to huge numbers of vehicles being driven that pose a danger to all road users. We can’t imagine this would have any support from the UK public. “More than a third of all cars and vans taken in for an MOT each year initially fail, so clearly the test is picking up some problems that need addressing that might otherwise make a vehicle unsafe. And while road accidents caused by mechanical failures might be low, how much of this is as a result of the MOT test existing? “We accept the MOT test isn’t perfect, but we’re far better to have it than not. In fact, we would like to see it reviewed more regularly and believe there is an argument to base it not just on vehicle age, but also on the number of miles it has been driven. “The Government will also have no appetite for looking at the MOT again so soon after making changes to it this year, which included widening its scope in some areas.”

August 01, 2018 at 07:59AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT