Private hire demo announced in London

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The United Private Hire Drivers and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain have announced that they will be holding a series of rolling demos across London.

The first demo will take place at 10am on January 14, outside the Palestra building in Blackfriars Road.

The demo is in response to the Mayors plan to impose the Congestion Charge on Private Hire Vehicles entering the London charging zone.

The UPHD and IWGB have stated via social media that they believe the imposition of the Congestion Charge is being unfairly levied against PHV drivers.

They have also stated that they believe Transport for London are acting in a disctlriminatory fashion against the private hire industry.

Further demo dates are expected to be announced at a later date.

January 04, 2019 at 10:59AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Carbuyer LEVC TX 2019 review

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January 04, 2019 at 08:43AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Drivers claim uber are being given an easier ride than other operators by local council

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Bolton Council have been accused of operating a “two tier” private hire operating system by drivers who oppose the “many exceptions” made for controversial ride-hailing app Uber, one driver has said. As reported in the Bolton News, private-hire operators are required to have a licensed premises within the borough, but private hire drivers claim Uber’s office at Flexspace has been vacant for several months. The ride-hailing firm have been operating in Bolton since 2015 and according to the report by Bolton News, there has been no inspections undertaken of Uber in any way similar to what other operators undergo. It’s also claimed that Uber drivers themselves want the office to be open, with reports of having to travel to Manchester in order to complete some paperwork. Members of Bolton Private Hire Association want Uber to have someone present at the offices so drivers can do their paperwork there and have someone face-to-face to assist. Uber claims that it meets the requirements of having an office in the borough which consists with the address on its licence.

January 04, 2019 at 07:55AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber declared illegal in Brussels

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As Uber navigates its way around the sea of lawsuits across the globe, a court in the Belgian capital, Brussels has declared Uber illegal.

The ruling, which has come from a trade tribunal in the city according to a report in Fleet Europemeans that only drivers who have obtained a taxi license for the Brussels area, and have vehicles which have a rooftop illumination, are legally allowed to carry fare paying passengers in the area.

The court has decreed that this legal definition must also apply to drivers operating on the Uber platform.

It has also been reported that Uber could be subject to a €10,000 fine for every illegal journey made in the Brussels Region.

It is believed that Brussels Mobility Minister Pascal Smet is assessing the tribunals judgment.

There has been no comment from Uber at this time.

January 03, 2019 at 05:21PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Surrey cabbie suffers Christmas Day hijacking and assault

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Surrey Police are hunting four people in connection with the hijacking and assault on a cab driver im Englefield Green.

At approximately 8.55pm on Christmas Day, the unnamed cabbie dropped somebody off in St Judes Road, Englefield Green, when a woman jumped into the front of his vehicle and asked to be taken to Addlestone Hospital.

The woman explained to the driver that she needed to visit her mother in hospital, prompting the driver to accept the fare.

It was reported by Surrey Live that 3 men then jumped into the back of the vehicle.

The woman in the front then attempted to grabbed the steering wheel, forcing the driver to bring the vehicle to a halt in Bakeham Lane.

The driver then got out of his vehicle and was attacked by his passengers, the woman then took the cabbies keys and stole his car, which was later found in Farnborough. The 3 men made their escape on foot.

Police are hunting a white woman with black curly shoulder-length hair, aged between 20 and 30, wearing a red jacket, jeans and heeled boots.

They are also hunting 3 other people, with the first one is described as male, short, large build, brown short straight hair, thin style moustache and beard, aged between 20 and 30. He was wearing jeans and a black jacket

The second male suspect is described as short and slim, with brown short hair with similar facial hair to the first man

The third suspect is also male, white, tall, slim build, brown short hair brushed to the side and aged 20 and 30 Police have requested that If you have any information, call them on 101 (999 in an emergency) or report it online. Quote the reference number PR/45180136724

January 03, 2019 at 04:00AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Hopp begins “onboarding” new private hire drivers for London

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Uber’s biggest European competitors Hopp, also known as Taxify outside of the UK, has begun taking on London drivers. The rebranded minicab firm is hoping the name change will help them meet the requirements set in the capital. According to sources last month Hopp have applied for an operators licence in London. The “onboarding” firm are looking for private hire drivers to join the platform before 15th January to receive an introductory 7.5% commission rate for the first two months. The onboarding sessions are due to take place at Heathrow Taxify originally launched its service in September 2017, but was forced to shut down just four days later as details of its licence emerged. The European company took the unusual steps of buying a small local minicab firm, instead of applying for a licence themselves. In December 2017 Taxify were fined £250 plus £10,000 legal fees for trying to enter the London market via the backdoor. Taxify admitted to a “major error of judgment” and has since employed former Gett Chief Marketing Officer Rich Pleeth to help win approval from regulators Transport for London for a new licence. Founded by Markus Villig, Taxify, now known as Hopp in the UK, launched in 2013. They claim to be one of the fastest-growing ride-hailing platforms in Europe and Africa with investors including Daimler, Didi Chuxing, Korelya Capital and TransferWise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus. The ride-hailing company claims to have more than 10 million users in more than 25 countries globally.

January 03, 2019 at 12:19PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Use taxis and minicabs as public transport in rural areas - Campaign for Better Transport

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The transport campaign group, Campaign for Better Transport, has called on the Government to include taxis and minicabs as part of future development of rural transport strategies.

CBT chief executive Darren Shirley said constrained budgets mean councils need to work closer on transport with schools, hospitals and communities.

“The answer won’t always be subsiding a bus,” he said.

“It might be making sure a school bus turns into a public bus after 9am and using online technology to help people find lift shares or taxi shares.

Utilising taxis and private hire vehicles should be a “key principle” for the future development of rural transport strategies CBT said.

This is part of the CBT’s call for a “planned network” to replace the existing “patchwork of different forms and types of public transport”.

Rural bus mileage fell by more than 6% between 2011-12 and 2016-17.

Martin Tett, the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman, said councils are “willing to discuss any ideas for shared public transport to help ensure communities get the services they need”.

January 03, 2019 at 11:21AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Stephen McCaffrey THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Horrific A13 taxi collision casualty named as taxi proprietor

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The driver of the black taxi who sadly lost his life as a result of a horrific collision on the A13 has been named as Ruşit Ataoğlu according to sources in North Cyprus.

Two people died in the collision which happen in the early hours of New Years Eve. The other victim, a woman in her 70’s, was the driver of the other vehicle involved in the incident. The unnamed woman was travelling on the eastbound carriageway in the wrong direction when it collided with the taxi. The driver of the black taxi was reported as Ruşit Ataoğlu according to North Cypriot sources. The 40-year-old man was a taxi proprietor and mechanic and not a licensed cabbie as first reported. Mr Ataoğlu was a director at Mister Taxi in the Bethnal Green area.

Many cab drivers and fellow industry workers have expressed their condolences. Michael Glassman, owner of nearby taxi garage Colts Cabs said via Twitter “Sad to hear of the fatality on the A13 whether it be a driver or any person. It now turns out to be a taxi proprietor round the back of Three Colts Lane... RIP brother.”

A Crowdfunder has been set up to help the family of Mr Ataoğlu who leaves a wife and two children. For more details visit the site here.

January 02, 2019 at 02:17PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Accusation of racism as passenger tries to assault cabbie

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A cabbie has been accused of racism and sexism after an argument over an open window in his vehicle, which led to a woman trying to assault the driver.

The Metro reported that cabbie, Mian Sabir, asked a group of passengers to leave his vehicle after they allegedly told him that he wouldn't be paid.

Sabir was asked by one of the group if he would close his window, which he refused to do, this in turn sparked an argument.

After refusing to pay their fare, one of the group then accused the cabbie of racism and sexism.

It was alleged by Sabir that the woman who was yelling at him, alighted the vehicle, whilst the womans mother remained in the vehicle.

The mother then allegedly told Sabir that he wouldn't be paid if he didn't close the window.

The daughter then returned to the vehicle as the mother and other members of the group were outside of the vehicle. The cabbie then alleges that they attacked the vehicle and attempted to assault him, but were pulled away by other group members.

A Police spokesman said:"police were called to a report of an assault on a taxi driver on Lockwood Scar between 10pm and 10.50pm on 26 December.

The suspects, who were customers in the vehicle, are reported to have become abusive towards the driver. They then got out of the car and attempted to cause damage to his vehicle. Enquiries remain ongoing into the incident.

January 02, 2019 at 07:51AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Video released of taxi robbery in West Midlands as police asks for public help

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West Midlands Police are appealing for more help following a cab robbery in West Bromwich on Thursday 22nd November.

Police say shortly before 3am a Toyota Prius working as a taxi was parked up when a black car pulled in front of it and three men got out. One man opened the passenger door of the taxi and punched the driver in the head before demanding his keys.

The driver got out of the car when the offenders demanded more money from him, before they fled in the stolen taxi.

January 02, 2019 at 09:44AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Driver has face bitten and vehicle stolen by angry passenger

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A private hire driver in Everton has had his face bitten and vehicle stolen after one of his passengers became “agitated” and started arguing. The attack which took place at around 10pm Saturday 29, left the driver with bite marks to his face. The attacker then fled in the victims vehicle, a silver Ford Mondeo before crashing into a set of traffic lights during a police chase. Merseyside Police said that the car was reported as “driving erratically” and was seen crashing into several other vehicles before hitting the traffic lights at the junction of Kings Drive and Woolton Street. The Liverpool Echo confirmed that a 32-year-old man from Anfield was detained at the scene and arrested on suspicion of robbery and road traffic offences. The police are now speaking to any witnesses and analysing CCTV footage and urge anyone who witnessed either incident or has any information about it, including CCTV, mobile phone video recordings or dash cam footage of the incident, to contact @MerPolCC or 101 quoting ref 1067 of 29/12 or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on or via social media.

January 02, 2019 at 08:44AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cross-border hiring comes under scrutiny yet again as the Deregulation Act gets slammed

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Leicester City Council have become the latestin an ever-growing number of licensing authorities to be critical of the deregulation act 2015, which allows private hire drivers to undertake cross-border hirings.

Irate cabbies in Leicester have called on their licensing auhority to do more to stop drivers who are licensed in other areas picking up fares.

The drivers are arguing that more lenient rules or lower regulatory standards in other areas mean that drivers are registering with other local authorities, thus circumventing Leicester City Councils regulations, and then working in the city centre.

This is a criticism that has been voiced by many regulatory bodies up and down the country.

However, the various authorities which license both thebtaxi and private hire industry claim that their hands are tied by the Deregulation Act 2015, which is widely regarded as seriously flawed and not fit for purpose.

It has been alleged, according to The Leicester Mercury that drivers are coming in from areas such as Wolverhampton, attempting to join companies in Leicester, despite having a license to operate in Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton, along with licensing areas such as Rossendale, have come under fire from other licensing authorities because of the percieved ease at which licences are issued in these areas, as well as the number of licenses processed, which has exploded over the last few years.

Another criticism made is that whilst Leicester City Council criteria dictates that cars can be no older than five years old when they are registered., Wolverhampton cars which are being registered for the first time can be up to twelve-years-old, which again circumvents Leicester City Councils licensing regime.

Leicester's cabbies have now expressed concerns over safety and also ther ability to earn an income as their city streets get flooded with vehicles from other licensing areas.

It is also alleged that although Leicester City councils enforcement team are able to observe what is happening they are powerless to act as they have no jurisdiction over driver's or vehicles registered outside of the licensing area.

It is believed that Leicester City Council are now supporting Transport for London's campaign for a change in legislation.

January 01, 2019 at 05:25PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Woman receives four-and-a-half-year sentence for robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint in Winsford

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A woman from Winsford has been jailed after admitting robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint in the town.

Angela Hughes, of Pentland Close, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a knife in a public place.

The 41-year-old was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 21 December. She was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

The charges relate to an incident in Winsford in the early hours of Thursday 29 November.

Shortly after 2am Hughes got into a taxi at a car park on Dene Drive.

Once the taxi driver, a 36-year-old man from Manchester, had driven to Crook Lane Hughes threatened him with a knife and demanded his takings.

She stole his wallet, mobile phone and car keys as well as a small quantity of cash.

The robbery was witnessed by a member of the public, who reported it to the police.

Officers attended and located Hughes nearby in possession of the stolen items and money.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Claire Heatley said: “Hughes subjected the taxi driver to a terrifying ordeal, threatening him with a knife and demanding cash soon after he had taken the ill-fated fare.

“She stole his phone and his car keys but thankfully the incident was witnessed by a member of the public. They called the police and officers were able to locate and arrest Hughes a short distance away.

“Motivated by a desire for money, she was only able to steal a small amount of cash from the taxi driver. It has cost her dearly as she has now been jailed for four-and-a-half years for the robbery.

“I am delighted that Hughes has received a substantial custodial sentence and I hope that this brings some closure to the victim.

“I also hope that the sentence serves as a deterrent to other people and stops them from committing similar crimes, and that it sends out a strong message that knife crime will not be tolerated.

“At Cheshire Constabulary we are committed to doing all we can to tackle knife crime.

“We will respond robustly to any knife related incidents and ensure that anyone found to be carrying a knife or committing a knife related offence is brought to justice.

“But the police cannot beat knife crime without the help of the rest of the community and we urge anyone with information about people who may be carrying knives to come forward and speak to us or Crimestoppers.”

January 01, 2019 at 11:21AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Black Taxi driver dies in horror crash after a vehicle drove the wrong way along the A13

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Two people have died, one a black taxi driver, in a collision on the A13, police have confirmed. A driver was travelling on the eastbound carriageway in the wrong direction when it collided with a taxi, believed to be a London black cab. Emergency services, including paramedics, the Fire Brigade and police, rushed to the incident, which happened at around 1.45am today (Monday, December 31), took place at the Witch's Hat junction of the A13 near Dagenham. Reports suggest it was a head-on collision and despite the best efforts of the emergency services, two people have died as a result of their injuries. As reported by Essex Live, the victims are a woman in her 70s - the driver of the car travelling in the wrong direction - and the taxi driver, aged in his 40s.

Police were called to reports of a car driving the wrong way on the A13 but were unable to intercept before the fatal collision happened.

Next of kins have been informed.

The road has been closed for six hours as emergency services deal with the incident. It will remain shut for investigation and recovery work to take place.

December 31, 2018 at 09:09AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Police appeal for help following Christmas Day taxi driver assault in Houghton on the Hill

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Detectives investigating a serious assault on the A47 in Houghton on the Hill during the early hours of Christmas Day are urging anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

A taxi driver was assaulted around 1am on Tuesday 25th December and sustained a serious injury to his eye. The incident took place outside the Rose and Crown Pub on Uppingham Road (A47). The 38-year-old victim remains in hospital and from enquiries detectives have made so far it’s believed a number of people were in the road at the time and may have witnessed the assault. The suspect has been described as a white man, 19 to 20-years-old, about 5ft 9ins tall, of skinny build with dark brown hair. DC Mike Archer is investigating the incident, he said: “We know there were a number of people out celebrating on Christmas Eve into the early hours of Christmas Day, we are sure the incident was witnessed by those in the area. “The victim was in his taxi and had just dropped off a fare when he was punched in the face. “If you witnessed the assault or have any information about the person responsible we would urge you to get in touch. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help us identify the suspect.”

December 31, 2018 at 07:00AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Latest private hire and taxi sexual assault figures released by TfL

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Transport for London have released the latest private hire and sexual assualt figures for the London area.

The figures are pertaining to offences that were recorded by the police in 2017. Not all of the offences reported have resulted in a driver being charged. This could be for various reasons, including the driver not being traced and identified, insufficient evidence to charge a suspect, the Crown Prosecution Service deciding it is not in the public interest to prosecute, or the victim's reluctance to proceed with a prosecution.

Transport for London figures show that rape allegations have increased in the private hire sector by 13.3%, whilst allegations of other sexual offences have dropped by 4.6% on the previous year.

There have been no taxi related sexual offences reported in 2017.

Transport for Londonbreak down the figures by working with the Metropplitan Police Service and the City of London Police Service to provide information about the licence status and journey type for all drivers who have been charged with a Taxi and Private Hire journey-related sexual offence, recorded in the 2017 calendar year.

A driver will be charged when the MPS or CoLP has determined that there is sufficient evidence for the case to go before the Court, and the Crown Prosecution Service decides that there is a reasonable chance of a conviction and that it is in the public interest to charge the suspect with a sexual offence. Information about the location, time of offence and any details about the suspect involved is used by the MPS, CoLP and TfL for intelligence-led enforcement and investigation. Some reports of offences which have taken place are unbooked and the drivers can't be traced. The police are more likely to be able to trace and take action against a minicab driver, for example, when they are licensed and the journey is booked through a licensed operator as there will be a record of the booking and the driver.

There were 21 drivers charged for 24 offences. Three drivers were charged with more than one offence.

These figures relate to crimes recorded by the police in 2017 and verified against TfL's Taxi and Private Hire licensing database.

Of the 21 charged, 3 were chaged with rape, of which 1 was found not guilty, 1 was convicted and 1 is still awaiting a court hearing.

Of the 21 remaining charges listed as sex related offences, 8 were found not guilty, 8 were convicted and 5 are awaiting a court hearing.

Of 19 private hire drivers who were charged with one or more offences, that number is spread between 6 private hire operators. Havering Cars, Keen Cars, Goldline Cars, Melville Cars and Triple A Express, all had 1 driver on their platform charged with a sex related offence, leaving Uber with 14 drivers on their platform who were charged.

The drivers from Melville Cars and Triple A Express were both found guilty of an offence, as were 6 Uber drivers. 4 uber drivers along with drivers from Goldline, Havering and Keen Cars, werr found not guilty. There are 6 Uber drivers still awaiting trial.

Offences that are committed outside of London by London licensed drivers are investigated by the local police force for that area. Those offences are not included in TfLs figures.

December 30, 2018 at 12:26PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

More than half a million potholes reported to councils in 2017

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More than half a million potholes were reported by members of the public to local authorities in Britain for repair in 2017 – an increase of 44% on two years earlier, according to data obtained by the RAC. A freedom of information request* made to the 212 councils in England, Scotland and Wales responsible for roads found 512,270 potholes were reported last year to 161 authorities compared to 356,432 from 152 councils in 2015. But when extrapolating the numbers to take account of the likely reports from the authorities who were unable to provide the RAC with data, the total is probably nearer 674,229 in 2017**. The 2015 equivalent is 508,651 which represents a smaller increase of 33%. English authorities, not including London, saw the worst rise in the number of pothole reports between 2015 and 2017 with a 55% jump from 269,486 to 417,881. Wales experienced a lesser increase of 22% with reports going up from 9,519 to 11,638. However, when comparing last year with 2014 in Wales the difference was greater (40% increase) with only 8,287 potholes reported then. In Scotland there was only a slight rise of 2% from 2015 to 2017 (55,961 to 56,859), but a 52% increase from 2014 with 37,432 reports. Taking London on its own, there were 25,892 potholes reported last year in stark contrast to 2015 when there were just 21,466 – an uplift of 21%. From 2014 to 2017, however, there has been a 13% drop from 29,870 four years ago. When looking at the inclusive four-year period from 2014 to 2017, a total of 1,737,161 potholes were reported across Britain but, factoring in those authorities that did not provide data, the figure is more likely to be well closer to 2.4m (2,429,422) over the four years.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said:

“It is shocking to see the number of reported potholes in Britain has risen by nearly 50% in two years. Our own analysis of breakdown data shows the damage suffered by motorists is a constant source of frustration and expense, but the scale of the problem is obviously far greater than the numbers show. “Perhaps motorists are more inclined to report pothole defects than they were a few years ago, but we believe the sheer size of the increase is further proof the condition of our roads is worsening. With over half a million potholes reported in 2017 and a more accurate figure for all authorities, including those that didn’t provide data, likely to be in excess of 674,000, this is sadly just the tip of the iceberg as thousands will go unreported every year. “This means road users are then reliant on authorities finding these potholes in their regular inspections and taking action to fix them which in reality is probably less likely to happen. However, when road users report potholes the onus is on the authority concerned to fix them or risk suffering subsequent compensation claims as a result of not doing so. “For that reason, we urge everyone to report potholes so that motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and other road users don’t suffer the consequences of poorly maintained road surfaces, whether that’s damage to their vehicles, motorbikes or bicycles, or worse still a collision.” The RAC’s most recent study of breakdown data for the RAC Pothole Index shows its patrols dealt with 14,220 damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheel breakdowns in the year to end of October 2018 which represents 1.5% of all call-outs. This was the second highest percentage ever recorded since the RAC started analysing this data in 2006, with the highest being 1.6% – a figure previously only seen in 2015 (Q3 & Q4) and 2017 (Q3 & Q4). The Pothole Index, which is the RAC’s long-term indicator of the health of the country’s roads, also shows that it is not an improving picture as the index remains considerably higher than it was in the third quarter of 2017. In fact, with the index standing at 2.63 this means motorists are now more than 2.5 times as likely to have a pothole breakdown than they were 12 years ago. The record high index figure was 3.5 in Q1 2010 when motorists were 3.5 times more likely to breakdown due hitting a pothole than they were in 2006. Nicholas Lyes added: “Drivers questioned for the RAC Report on Motoring listed the condition and maintenance of local roads as their top motoring concern with many saying the standard of roads is not good enough. They also think conditions have worsened in the last year. Our own data shows that since the third quarter of 2017 vehicle damage from potholes remained constant and there has been no significant improvement over the past 12 months. “This is no doubt why the Asphalt Industry Alliance estimates the one-off investment required to return local roads in England and Wales to a fit-for-purpose standard to be over £9.3bn. “In order to bring our local roads up to an acceptable and safer condition, they require long-term ring-fenced funding which the Treasury could do if they were prepared to set aside a fraction of the revenues that motorists pay through fuel duty.”

December 30, 2018 at 11:59AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

GMB call on Mayor for action over deaths and injuries caused by London buses

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GMB have called on Mayor of London for decisive action on "chilling" numbers killed and injured by outsourced London bus operators after 6,725 cases of death/injury in 12 months to end June 2018.

GMB have called for decisive action to secure an end to the current position where 8 were killed and 719 very seriously injured (an average of 2 per day) in safety incidents involving the fleet of buses operated for the Mayor of London in the 12 months to between July 2017 and June 2018. A new study by GMB London of official figures published quarterly by Transport for London since 2014 has found that the Borough of Westminster topped the London league with 411 total cases including 37 serious injuries and 70 minor injuries requiring hospital attention. These cases involved people being killed and injured by buses operated by outsourced operators for TfL in the year to end June 2018. Next in the league was Southwark, which had a total of 334 cases including 37 serious injuries and 42 minor injuries; Lewisham had a total of 313 cases including 29 serious injuries and 43 minor; Croydon had 303 cases, including 34 serious and 29 minor; Lambeth had 292 cases, 43 serious and 28 minor; and Haringey had 287 cases, 51 serious and 23 minor. The same figures show that for London as a whole 8 people were killed and 719 seriously injured during these 12 months.

GMB London Region is campaigning for the safe operation of TfL buses in London. This follows a resolution on bus safety and the public carried at the GMB Congress earlier this year. Sadiq Khan is aware of the serious problem and said that figures were "chilling". Extract from the letter from Sadiq Khan to #LondonBusWatch Bus Safety Campaign dated 10 December 2018 includes: “I agree with you that the statistics included in Michael Liebreich’s report are chilling, and I can assure you that I am not complacent on this issue. It is absolutely unacceptable for anyone to be killed or seriously injured on our transport network. We have an extremely long way to go to reach the targets I have set, and we will need a cultural shift to get there. My Vision Zero Action Plan shows how TfL and other organisations in London are starting to create this shift, and I am determined to keep driving this until we see the rapid improvement that is so badly needed.”

Warren Kenny, GMB Regional Secretary said: “We know that Sadiq Khan considers that the statistics on the numbers killed and injured are ‘chilling’. “So what is needed is decisive action from the top to change the culture at Transport for London to make the safe operation of buses by the outsourced private for-profit operators the top priority. “It's not the top priority under the current contracts. Punctuality has the highest priority and profit margins are linked to punctuality records. This has to change. “The safe operation of buses by the outsourced operators must be made TfL's top priority. We have to see an end to the current position where 8 people were killed and 719 very seriously injured by the fleet of buses operated for the Mayor of London in the 12 months to end June 2018. “GMB know that safety culture change in organisations has to come from the very top. Sadiq Khan has to get a grip on the problem he inherited from the past managers who designed the outsourced killing machine that TFL presides over. Nothing less than fundamental reform of the Bus System's contract performance incentives to include safety is acceptable." Tom Kearney, Founder of #LondonBusWatch and TfL Bus Crash Survivor said: “This month marks the ninth anniversary of when an Arriva Route 73 Bendy Bus contracted by TfL struck the back of my head and my torso while I was at the edge of a crowded Oxford Street pedestrian crossing. Because TfL, Arriva and the Police never bothered to contact me after I woke up from a Glasgow Coma Scale 3 coma in January 2010, I was compelled to investigate why I nearly died on 18 December 2009 all on my own. “I have campaigned over these years for a safer public bus system that doesn't produce serious injuries like mine as it currently does 2 times per day. “Safe operation of buses require drivers rested and with a safe system of work and well-maintained vehicles, all items clearly spelled out in the London Bus Drivers’ ‘Bill of Rights’ which was presented to his representative by protesting TfL Bus Drivers on 14 September 2017. “London Bus Drivers' ‘Bill of Rights’: 1. The Right to a safe work schedule without any forced overtime or loss of pay 2. The Right to a decent and proper rest break in the working day 3. The Right to drive a safe and well-maintained vehicle 4. The Right to clean, serviced toilet and rest facilities on all bus routes 5. The Right to report safety concerns without fear of retribution from TfL or employers 6. The Right, when seriously ill and covered by a doctor's note, to not be harassed into coming into work until fit to do so 7. The Right to relevant and timely safety training 8. The Right to drive without being forced to answer radio messages and texts from Controllers whilst in motion 9. The Right to have all company rules in writing and clearly displayed 10. The Right to be treated with dignity and respect by our employers, TfL and the public. “Sadiq Khan has resisted accepting this ‘Bill of Rights’ and, as TfL Chair, he needs to show some leadership and see the ‘Bill of Rights’ adopted by TfL’s contracted Bus Companies and its implementation closely monitored by TfL.”

December 30, 2018 at 07:12AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity highlights the work of the Taxi Charity

via taxi-point http://bit.ly/2QWw4IC

Wonderful video about the the Taxi Charity - its veterans and volunteer drivers - produced by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

December 29, 2018 at 07:17PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Taxi Charity THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT