Airbus, Audi and Intaldesign show off flying Taxi prototype at Drone Week Amsterdam

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At Drone Week in Amsterdam Audi, Airbus and Italdesign presented for the first time their flying and driving prototype of “Pop.Up Next”.

This innovative concept for a flying taxi combines a self-driving electric car with a passenger drone.

In the first public test flight, the flight module accurately placed a passenger capsule on the ground module, which then drove from the test grounds autonomously.

As soon as the coming decade, Audi customers could use a convenient and efficient flying taxi service in large cities – in multi-modal operation, in the air and on the road. Without changing vehicles, passengers will enjoy their leisure time, relax, or work, the company has said.

Audi's board member for sourcing and IT, and president of the Audi subsidiary Italdesign, Dr. Bernd Martens said:

“Flying taxis are on the way. We at Audi are convinced of that.

“More and more people are moving to cities. And more and more people will be mobile thanks to automation. "

In future senior citizens, children, and people without a driver’s license will want to use convenient robot taxis. If we succeed in making a smart allocation of traffic between roads and airspace, people and cities can benefit in equal measure.”

To see what an on-demand service of this kind could be like, Audi is conducting tests in South America in cooperation with the Airbus subsidiary Voom. Customers book helicopter flights in Mexico City or Sao Paulo, while an Audi is at the ready for the journey to or from the landing site.

Dr. Martens continued by saying:

“Services like this help us to understand our customers’ needs better. Because in the future, flying taxis will appeal to a wide range of city dwellers.

"With Pop.Up Next we are simultaneously exploring the boundaries of what is technically possible. The next step is for a full-size prototype to fly and drive,”.

Audi is also supporting the Urban Air Mobility flying taxi project in Ingolstadt. This initiative is preparing test operations for a flying taxi at Audi’s site, and is part of a joint project of the European Union in the framework of the marketplace for the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities. This project aims to convince the public of the benefits of the new technology and answer questions concerning battery technology, regulation, certification, and infrastructure.

November 28, 2018 at 07:49AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi drivers fury at TfL brings London Bridge to a standstill

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Furious taxi drivers took to blockading London Bridge yesterday after becoming increasingly frustrated at what is seen as Transport for London's seemingly, discriminatory road policies against the licensed London taxi industry.

Taxi pressure group, the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA), called the action in response to TfL plans to exlude taxis and cars from an Eastbound section of Tooley Street between Duke Street Hill/ London Bridge and Bermondsey Street, the exclusion will not apply to buses and cycles It is believed that this exclusion will restrict direct access to the London Bridge Hospital, and potentially create high levels of congestion and pollution on the surrounding roads, repeating the traffic chaos which occured when the same restriction was in place during the uprating of London Bridge Station. Yesterdays protest was deemed a success, and further action is planned throughout the week, as the taxi industry vents its frustration. London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, shortly after taking office, proclaimed the London taxi industry as an integral part of London's public transport system, however, TfL, as well as some borough councils, have now taken to blocking taxis from some of London's roads, thus restricting access to that same said section of public transport, ultimately inconveniencing passengers. Yesterdays protest started at 4pm, and went on for three hours, with cabbies dispersing at arpund 7pm. Unbelievably, the City of London authority lifted the Bank Junction restriction so as to relieve some of the pressure which had built up due to non-moving traffic. This in itself amplified a point as taxis are also excluded from that junction too. There was some support from the general public with Mr Delta Hotel tweeting:"Why are The Mayor and TfHell so hateful of and discriminatory towards our London Black cabs." Cheechio said on Twitter:"Big taxi protest in London Bridge, anti TfL good." Criticism came from Nicky Turner on twitter who said:"I respect taxi drivers right to protest until it takes me more than 90 minutes to get home, how about a petition next time." The protests will be continuing throughout this week as pressure mounts on TfL to engage with the industry to find a workable solution

November 27, 2018 at 03:23PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cycling charity declares war against London's Black Taxis over potential traffic restrictions

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London Cycling Campaign have put together a consultation to directly challenge London’s iconic black taxis who are up in arms about potential restrictions put on their trades ability to navigate certain roads in the city - on this occasion, Tooley Street, London Bridge. London Cycling Campaign is a membership charity and are calling for new recruits to join to help keep proposals for Tooley Street closures to stay on track. The Consultation - ‘Don’t let cabbies derail plans for Tooley Street’ highlights their desire to limit what vehicles can access the street from London Bridge, claiming the road, which ironically is paid for by road tax payers, is “dominated by buses, black taxis and loads of other motor vehicles.” This week London’s black taxi drivers are to stage daily protests on London Bridge against the proposals. If the restrictions are applied, it would mean any passengers needing access to the very busy More London Place complex will have to add, potentially, an additional 15-20 minutes on to their journey or walk.London Cycling Campaign say cab drivers “want their convenience, no matter the expense to people walking, cycling and using public transport.” The introduction to recruiting new members ends by saying: “Cabbies have a long history of opposing improvements to London’s streets, and the furious reaction to this modest scheme show they’re determined to block any and all progress.” From anyone looking in from the outside, this surely must look like a restriction of trade Vs the desire to cycle freely by those who pay zero road tax — or would I be wrong in saying that? What’s your opinion? - let us know.

November 27, 2018 at 12:57PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Court hears how Uber driver sparked terror alert chaos

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A court heard how an Uber driver sparked a terror alert after mowing Eleven people down outside the Natural History Museum.

Juma Omar, from Barking in East London, denied one count of dangerous driving when he appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday.

It is alleged that the Uber driver mounted the pavement at the junction of Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road in South Kensington at approximately 2:20pm on October 7 last year.

The incident saw pedestrians mowed down before Omar finally came to a halt after colliding with two cars.

Omar was driving a Black Toyota Prius, when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle after putting his foot on the accelerator and failed to remove his foot for around six seconds, before doing a u-turn and slamming into a crowd of people who had been trying to get out of his way.

Omar then got out of the vehicle repeatedly saying "i'm sorry" before being tackled to the ground by members of the public.

The Daily Mailreported how Prosecutor Bill McGivern explained that this was case of Omar pushing the wrong pedal and continuing to push it.

The incident resulted in the counter-terrorism unit being deployed as fears grew that a terror related incident was in progress.

Eleven people suffered injuries as a result of the incident, none of them life-threatening.

An investigation on the vehicle found that there were no mechanical issues.

The trial continues.

November 27, 2018 at 12:20AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

ICO fines Uber £385,000 over data protection failings

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The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined ride sharing company Uber £385,000 for failing to protect customers’ personal information during a cyber attack.

A series of avoidable data security flaws allowed the personal details of around 2.7million UK customers to be accessed and downloaded by attackers from a cloud-based storage system operated by Uber’s US parent company. This included full names, email addresses and phone numbers. The records of almost 82,000 drivers based in the UK – which included details of journeys made and how much they were paid – were also taken during the incident in October and November 2016. The ICO investigation found ‘credential stuffing’, a process by which compromised username and password pairs are injected into websites until they are matched to an existing account, was used to gain access to Uber’s data storage. However, the customers and drivers affected were not told about the incident for more than a year. Instead, Uber paid the attackers responsible $100,000 to destroy the data they had downloaded. ICO Director of Investigations Steve Eckersley said: “This was not only a serious failure of data security on Uber’s part, but a complete disregard for the customers and drivers whose personal information was stolen. At the time, no steps were taken to inform anyone affected by the breach, or to offer help and support. That left them vulnerable.” The incident, a serious breach of principle seven of the Data Protection Act 1998, had the potential to expose the customers and drivers affected to increased risk of fraud. It came to light when an announcement, made by the company itself, was reported by the media in November 2017. Mr Eckersley added: “Paying the attackers and then keeping quiet about it afterwards was not, in our view, an appropriate response to the cyber attack. “Although there was no legal duty to report data breaches under the old legislation, Uber’s poor data protection practices and subsequent decisions and conduct were likely to have compounded the distress of those affected.” The data protection authority for the Netherlands, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, has also issued a fine to Uber today under its own pre-GDPR legislation. The Dutch regulator was the lead member of an international task force which included the ICO and which co-operated in investigating the effects of the incident in their respective jurisdictions.

November 27, 2018 at 10:14AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Addison Lee reveal how London self-driving trials will see launch of autonomous vehicle service by 2021

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Addison Lee Group has been selected to lead a £15 million UK government-backed consortium to launch autonomous vehicle services in London by 2021.

The consortium, which also includes Oxbotica, DG Cities, Nominet and Immense Simulations, has won funding last week from the government’s Connected and Autonomous Vehicle 4 (CAV4) programme to introduce 15 autonomous vehicles in the capital from 2021, designed to support areas which are poorly served by existing public transport. The project will build on the MERGE research exercise carried out by a number of the consortium members and follows Addison Lee’s recent partnership announcement with Oxbotica and its AV mapping exercise in Canary Wharf. Paul McCabe, Addison Lee Group’s Corporate Development Director said: ‘The Addison Lee-led consortium will help quickly realise many of the benefits we envisage in bringing autonomous vehicles onto the streets of London – better mobility for its’ people, enhanced public transport, cleaner air and safer streets.’What does the trial involve? The consortium will roll out four AV pilots using 15 autonomous vehicles. Designed to complement existing public transport, the service will be app-based, on demand and based on ride-sharing. The vehicles will be low-emission, designed with the pedestrian in mind and priced at a level to generate demand without impacting other public transport. With its end-to-end service management and experience of completing 25,000 journeys a day in London, Addison Lee will provide the service wrapper for the project.

As the UKs leading self-driving vehicle software company, Oxbotica’s technology will underpin the consortium, while DG Cities will provide the urban blueprint for the scheme. Immense Simulations will take the data from the pilot and model impact on other London boroughs and other UK cities and Nominet will provide cyber-security expertise to the platform. Work on the project will begin immediately.

November 27, 2018 at 09:40AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Another right turn ban for vehicles as work begins to transform Old Street roundabout

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Transport for London and Islington and Hackney Councils have started work at Old Street to remove the “outdated” 1960s roundabout and create a transformed environment that is safer for cycling and walking. The work will see the northwest arm of the roundabout close permanently to all traffic, creating a major new public space with better walking and cycling access to Old Street station. Traffic will operate two-way through the redesigned junction, with fully segregated cycle lanes and cycle-only traffic signals around the re-designed junction.

Vehicles will no longer be able to turn right from Old Street into City Road travelling eastbound.TfL say the works will significantly reduce danger for cyclists and other vulnerable road users and enable new people to cycle who were previously put off by the roundabout. Some of the subways around Old Street will also be closed and replaced with new surface-level pedestrian crossings, making journeys in the area quicker and easier for people walking.

Preparation work on the roundabout and nearby roads has now started, with utility providers such as Thames Water and other contractors working at the site.

In August, the Mayor announced he wanted to see the project brought forward and begun this year. TfL have worked closely with the councils and project contractors to ensure the improvements can be completed as quickly as possible, and this includes agreeing to extended working hours to reduce the overall duration of the work. The transformation is expected to be complete by the end of 2020 and residents and visitors are advised to visit tfl.gov.uk/old-street-roundabout for more information about changes to travel during the work. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan – “I announced over the summer that I wanted to see improvements at Old Street brought forward, and I’m delighted that work to transform the junction has now begun. Old Street is one of the busiest junctions in London, but is currently an outdated roundabout that needs to be made safer for the thousands of people who pass through it every day. “New segregated cycle lanes will transform safety for cyclists, and new pedestrian crossings and a new public space will make Old Street cleaner, safer and more pleasant for everyone spending time in the area. “Every death or serious injury on London’s roads is one too many, and the improvements at Old Street are part of our ambitious plans to improve road safety all across London.” Following TfL’s recently completed improvement work at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout in Redbridge, TfL has improved 27 junctions across the capital in recent years to help achieve Vision Zero and reduce danger to people walking and cycling. Work also continues to transform Highbury Corner, another outdated roundabout. New paving has been installed outside Highbury & Islington station and a new direct crossing has opened. Work at the junction will be complete by summer 2019.

November 27, 2018 at 02:17AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Coventry Cabbies Charged Up By Move to Electric Vehicles

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Coventry’s cab drivers are embracing the transition to electric vehicles following the launch of an EV trial scheme two months ago according to LEVC.

Since the start of the Go Electric Taxi pilot in September, places on the scheme have been oversubscribed and the scheme is fully booked until mid-February next year. The scheme – which has been funded by a grant from the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit and includes a £2500 incentive package for the first 60 electric taxis – has seen a significant jump in the number of cab drivers placing orders. This means that at the start of 2019, there will be at least 15 electric taxis on the city’s streets – with 9 orders placed following the launch of the scheme. 18 drivers have so far taken part in the try before you buy scheme. Each of these vehicles reduces a driver’s carbon footprint by 7 tonnes every year and has a significant air quality benefit – especially as many drivers are stepping out of older diesel vehicles. However, there isn’t just a benefit for the environment – with drivers reporting they are now spending less than £10 a day on fuel, compared with around £30 a day in their current diesel vehicle. This in part due to the dedicated ESB/Siemens rapid charging points that have been rolled out by the City Council. A number of recent studies have also shown other driver benefits – and have shown that EV drivers are less stressed and more focused than those behind the wheel of a diesel vehicle. Likewise, the newer vehicles come with advanced air conditioning systems which mean that drivers are better protected from external air pollution. Kartar Sabraiwal, was the first driver to benefit from the scheme when it was first launched. He has now had his electric taxi for three months and has been covering around 70 to 100 miles a day in the taxi. “It’s been fantastic,” Mr Sabraiwal said: “All my passengers much prefer the new taxi – saying that the panoramic roof and more spacious interior make them want to use black cabs more often. In addition, I’m seeing a fuel saving of around £400 a month from having made the switch.” All of trial participants surveyed have said that all of passengers loved the improved space and comfort of the new vehicle. This news comes at a time when Coventry City Council is considering tightening up emission standards in a bid to tackle poor local air quality – promising a full electric fleet by 2024. Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC said: “We have been delighted by the response of Coventry taxi drivers to the Go Electric Taxi scheme. If the response is anything like the rest of the UK, then the enthusiasm will only grow. Our new taxi makes the black cab trade more attractive to passengers and improves the trade’s competitiveness in the long-run.” All LEVC TXs are eligible for the UK Government’s plug-in taxi grant – which is guaranteed until the end of 2020.

November 27, 2018 at 01:34AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

How can taxi drivers improve their security whilst working

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Driving a taxi is a solitary existence, you are very much reliant on your own self, and in an extremely vulnerable position, with nobody to back you up or protect you. This leaves taxi drivers open to robberies and attacks.

With the increasing danger of being robbed or attacked when driving a taxi, there are some very simple procedures which can make cabbies less of a target. For many cabbies, this article will be like teaching them how to suck eggs, but we all let our guard down at some point and can end up falling victim to unscrupulous ne'er-do-wells, intent on causing harm and distress. So how can drivers protect themselves? The first port of call is the blindingly obvious, door-locks. Keeping the front doors locked at all times, unless having to leave the vehicle to assist a passenger, should be second nature. Making sure the door locks in the front are fully functioning is also of paramount importance, again many drivers don't always realise that the front door locks have failed, especially on rental vehicles, so it's always worth checking. Bringing the minimum amount of paraphernalia out to work with you is always wise. The less a driver takes to work, the less there is to steal. Does anybody really need a bag chock full of goodies in the vehicle with them?

This also applies to the contents of a wallet. Does any driver really need to come to work with a wallet brimming with cards or cash, or can a driver function with the bare minimum in that wallet? Securing your work bag is important, if it cannot go into the boot of the vehicle then a simple Caribinier, securing the bag to the bulkhead of the vehicle can be a very useful deterrent. Mobile phones and tablets are part of every taxi drivers arsenal in the quest to earn a living. Whilst these articles do have to be on display to some degree, nobody has to make it easy for any would-be thief. Simply moving the mobile phone holder from the side of the windscreen, to the centre of the screen or dashboard makes it extremely awkward for somebody to steal the phone, it's not fool-proof, but it can make a thief think twice. Splitting money off into different areas of the cab can certainly reduce losses incurred, also having a second bag with nothing but some loose change and paper inside is always useful. With the proliferation of gangs attacking cabbies, it is always a sensible precaution to leave a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front so as to be able to escape from potential trouble. Ultimately, whether a taxi gets damaged or not is irrelevant, getting yourself out of harms way is the priority. Leaving the cab is a contentious issue, if somebody needs assistance then you are in a no win situation, however locking ones doors upon leaving the cab can be a real deterrent to an opportunist thief When in doubt, trust your gut. If something looks as though it could be an issue, simply drive on. No amount of money is worth putting oneself in danger. There is no compulsion for a taxi driver to stop for anybody, regardless of the status of the for hire light, and there is no compulsion for a driver to accept a hiring when stationary but in transit, such as non-moving traffic or traffic lights. Therefore if somebody looks like trouble then drive on, a taxi drivers must always feel safe. Finally, report every single incident, regaedless of how innoccuous. The more imcidents that are reported, the more chance there is of getting action taken to help protect drivers. All taxi drivers have the right to work free from fear of attack and abuse, in the same way that bus drivers, tube workers and rail workers have that right. Ultimately, apply common sense, be careful and keep the doors locked.

November 26, 2018 at 03:49PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Drivers stage more protests over the financial squeeze caused by operators

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Private Hire drivers in Milton Keynes have staged yet another strike this morning in protest against increased rent charges as well as a 20p commission added on top of normal fares. Drivers submitted a petition to Milton Keynes Council Office in Bleak Hall to demonstrate their disapproval, the MKCitizen first reported. Demonstrations also took place outside the offices of operators Speedline and Skyline who have increased rent for drivers and added additional commissions.Taxipoint reported at the start of November a similar strike staged by the same private hire drivers in MK who were demanding a rise in the minimum fare price. Drivers wanted to base rate to rise to £5 from £3.20. They claim that the increased cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance and vehicle licensing has made a dent in their profits therefore are in need of the fare increase.

November 26, 2018 at 02:56PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi driver sustains life threatening injuries from drink-driver who thought he was drinking “no alcohol beer”

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A Lancashire taxi driver sustained life-threatening injuries in a head-on collision by a drink-driver who thought he was drinking “either low or no alcohol beer” at a party. The court at Blackburn Magistrates heard how John Paton crashed into cabbie Munir Hussain soon after he picked up a fare in Clitheroe. The collision took place around the notorious “Devil's Elbow” road on 5th August. Mr Paton who crossed onto the wrong side of the road before hitting the taxi driver and his passenger onboard said he had been drinking Miller Lite that evening, wrongly assuming it was a lower or no alcohol drink. He gave a blood reading totalling 132 against the legal limit of 80. The intoxicated driver pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and without due care and attention. As a result he was made subject to a community order for 12 months with five days' rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £170 with £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 20 months. Mr Hussain suffered horrendous injuries as a result of the crash. He suffered a tear in his aorta, damage to his windpipe, 12 broken ribs, his left hip was broken, left knee fractured in three places, his left tibia and fibia crushed and his left ankle and foot broken. The cabbie was also bed-bound for two and a half months spending five weeks in hospital. Olivia Heys, a passenger in Mr Hussian’s taxi said there was nothing the cabbie could do to avert the situation. The defence, John Richardson, said Paton had been to a friend's 60th birthday party and had been drinking Miller Lite lager. He added "He assumed that was either low or no alcohol beer but he accepts he should have checked," Mr Richardson did add that the police and the passenger had said the taxi driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. On the subject the defence said "Taxi drivers are not required to wear a seatbelt and there can be no criticism of him for that, but it may explain why he suffered the injuries that he did,"

November 26, 2018 at 11:01AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

21 hour shift leads to Uber driving being found guilty of British man's death

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An Uber driver has been found guilty of negligent driving occasioning death after his passenger, Englishman Samuel Thomas, stepped out of his vehicle at a red light, straight into the path of a bus. Uber driver Nazrul Islam, 32, denied responsibility for the death which occurred in Sydney, Australia, on June 17, 2017. The court heard how Mr Thomas had been out drinking with friends before a few of them decided to catch an Uber home. As reported by the Daily Mail, while sitting at a red light Mr Thomas opened the rear passenger door. Islam then accelerated off as Mr Thomas was struck by a bus.

(Image:Mr Thomas)

Magistrate Mary Ryan found that Islam did not keep a proper lookout. CCTV footage from the bus showed the internal light of Islam’s car came on indicating that something was ‘amiss’. The light was on for six seconds before Islam accelerated off, which the Magistrate believed was long enough for him to react. The court heard that Islam worked 21 hours, although claiming to of slept during breaks, before the incident and had said, through an interpreter, that he was ‘ready to drive Friday night as long as possible because it would be a busy night’.

Magistrate Ryan believed fatigue to be a main cause of Islam’s inability to react to the situation as it unfolded. Islam had only been working for Uber for three weeks before the incident and was unable to recall the ‘exact destination’ that Thomas and his two friends, Stephen Ronning and Greg Hensman, were going to but said he thinks the GPS was advising an ETA of four to five minutes. Magistrate Ryan said: “I find that he is guilty of the charge of negligent driving occasioning death beyond reasonable doubt”.

(Images:Facebook)

November 26, 2018 at 09:59AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Derby cabbie hospitalised after vicious assault

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A cab driver has been left hospitalised after a gang attacked him as he left a take-away.

The attack, which took place in Derby city centre, happened in the early hours of Sunday morning.

According to The Derby Telegraph the cabbie was attacked the moment he left the take-away by four or five people, who beat him to the ground, and then continued to punch him whilst he was on the floor.

Police, who were called at approximately 5am, arrived to find the cabbie with head injuries.

The cabbie was taken to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he remains in intensive care.

It is believed that the cabbie had finished work at the time of the attack.

A police spokesman said:

"Officers are investigating the circumstances of an assault in Derby which happened in the early hours of this morning.

At around 5.05am today (Sunday, November 25) officers were called the The Morledge in Derby city centre to reports that a man was injured. On arrival a man was found with a head injury and was taken to hospital where he remains. The investigation is in its early stages and a scene is in place whilst enquiries into the circumstances continue. Anyone with information is asked to contact us by using the following methods quoting incident number 226 of November 25.

Facebook – send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabularyTwitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContactWebsite – complete the online contact form https://ift.tt/2BxDqZz – call us on 101.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

November 26, 2018 at 09:33AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

LEVC ask drivers of the TX: Are you saving money on fuel?

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November 25, 2018 at 09:30PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI LEVC THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cabbie fined £600 for smoking cigarettes in own cab

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A taxi driver was handed a fine of £600 for smoking three cigarettes in her own cab.

Helen Jones, from Newport, was told by Cwmbran magistrates to pay a £200 fine for EACH of three cigarettes she lit up in her vehicle. The driver had already notched up five fixed penalty notices for smoking. Taxis are classed similar to train stations and pubs as a smoke-free place for the public under the Health Act 2006. Jones was handed the maximum fine of £200 per offence due to the "persistent offending and her blatant disregard for the law” according to The Mirror. The driver was also ordered to pay costs meaning the total fine was £980. A spokesperson from Newport council said: “The legislation to prevent smoking in smoke-free places was introduced to protect members of the public from the harmful effects of secondhand cigarette smoke. “Officers will not tolerate breaches of the law - and repeat offenders will be dealt with robustly."

November 25, 2018 at 08:43PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cabbie claims racial abuse in stone throwing row

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A Hull cab driver has fired a broadside at a woman who claimed that he had abused her after her children kicked-up some leaves onto his car.

The Sun reported that 24 year old Sayed Sadaat had shouted abuse at Shauna Stevenson, calling her a "fat b***h after her 2 daughters were playing in some leaves.

Whilst playing in the leaves it was alleged that the children had kicked leaves onto Sadaats car, prompting an angry reaction.

However, the cabbie has told a very different story, claiming that one of Stevensons daughter had thrown a stone at his vehicle.

This, allegedly then prompted the driver to confront the mother of the 2 children. It is then alleged that she told the cabbie to "f**k off back to his own country.

Stevenson has denied Sadaats' version of events, claiming that she may have told the driver to "f**k off" but not back to hia own country.

The cabbie, who drives for 35 Taxis in Hull has reported the incident to the police as a possible hate crime.

November 25, 2018 at 06:55PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cab driver who was involved in a brawl after which a man collapsed and died from a heart attack has had his taxi driving licence revoked

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A taxi driver from Blackpool has had his licence revoked after a man died following a brawl he was involved in.

62-year-old dual licence holder Michael Sharples' was involved in a brawl at the King's Arms, Fleetwood, on Sunday July 22 which was caught onn CCTV.

Wyre Council’s licencing committee revoked Sharples’ licence after David Allinson, who was also involved in the incident, collapsed and died outside the pub, despite efforts to save his life.

Sharples' appealed against the decision but at the hearing, which took place at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, the bench dismissed his appeal based on CCTV footage combined with his(Sharples') oral evidence and that of the council’s senior licensing officer.

Based on the evidence before them, the Magistrates’ court found that Mr Sharples should no longer hold his position as a taxi driver in Wyre and the council’s decision was upheld.

As reported in the Blackpool Gazette, Wyre Council said they place public safety at the heart of taxi licensing decisions and will not accept violent behaviour by licensed drivers Mr Sharples was also ordered to contribute £500 towards the council’s costs.

November 25, 2018 at 04:43PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cabbies tell LEVC what it’s like to drive the TX taxi

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November 25, 2018 at 10:11AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI LEVC THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT