"I'd claw your f****ing head off" threatens drunk pensioner because his Taxi fare was 30p more than usual

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A drunk pensioner has been caught on camera threatening to "claw the head off" a taxi driver - after his fare went up by 30p, claiming that he's never paid more that £4. Cabbie Ian Kennedy can be heard telling the man he owes a grand total of £4.23 for the journey to his home in Falkirk, triggering a furious response from the older man. Mr Kennedy tried to explain that the 30p hike was down to the local council and not him, but the passenger was in no mood for reasoning. In the video that was posted on social media, along with the comment: "What happens when you miss the Tariff One curfew, an extra 30p", Ian pulls up outside the man's destination and tells him the fare will be £4.23.

The passenger replies: "You're having a f***ing laugh son. "You said £4.30, I've never paid this in my life and I've been coming here for years. I never paid anything over four quid. £3.90."

Eventually the angry man begrudgingly hands over the money and says: "Just give me the f***ing change." After the passenger said: "Right I'll catch you some other day or I might never", Ian can be heard responding by saying: "I hope not." The passenger then rages: "You're a cheeky man, you're a cheeky young man, sir. "I wish I was f***ing younger, I'd claw your f***ing head off." Ian said the council fare change "puts an extra 30p on his fare".

You can view the footage in the Mirror, but be warned; the accents are very very strong.

February 07, 2019 at 06:58PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London Assembly member David Kurten quizzes the Mayor on his taxi industry policy.

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David Kurten has today questioned the Mayor on his policy surrounding the taxi industry, during Mayors Question Time.

The Mayor, despite proclaiming that Londons taxi industry was an integral part of Londons public transport network, he stated to the London Assembly that although he wants to see 80% of all journeys made in London, performed by foot, cycle or public transport, he does not include taxis within that 80% figure.

David Kurten then asks the Mayor a number of other questions pertaining to the taxi industry, which can be seen in full in the above video, including questions regarding bus lane exclusions for taxis.

In the meantime, taxi protests continue in London, with the focus shifting away from Tottenham Court Road and moving to Parliament Square, as angered cabbies continue their action against various road exclusions across the capital.

February 07, 2019 at 06:37PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi and private hire licensing reform. We’re already behind… again

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The Government has been promising action on taxi and private hire licensing reform for many years. To date, no comprehensive effort by the Government has been forthcoming. The most recent attempt was the Finish and Task Group on Taxi & Private Hire which was published in September 2018. Despite the Government’s assurances of a swift response, to date none has been forthcoming.

The principal focus of the current review and debate surrounds technological advancement in smartphone technology in the taxi and private hire sector that has blurred the lines between the lawful operation of a taxi (public hire) and that of a private hire driver and vehicle.

Whilst Government is still scratching its head wondering how to regulate the use of smartphone apps and ride hailing services, innovation in the sector has moved on again.

News of autonomous taxis and flying taxis is becoming increasingly prevalent. Late last year it was reported that “Self-driving taxis to be launched in London by 2021” after Addison Lee announces alliance with self-driving software company Oxbotica and in September 2018 the UK’s first successful electric vertical take-off and landing “flying taxi” vehicle was launched by Vertical Aerospace in Bristol.

Further afield Tokyo has introduced autonomous taxis in the runup to the Olympics and Waymo is reported to have launched autonomous taxis in Phoenix Arizona in partnership with Alphabet’s (better known as Google’s parent company) self-driving car division.

On a national level, the UK Government has made no secret of the fact that it wants the UK to be the first country to legalise the use of autonomous vehicle technology. In September 2018 the DfT’s Departments Science Advisory Council supported legislation to legalise autonomous vehicles.

The Government has funded three pilot schemes (Addison Lee being one of the three) around the UK to introduce autonomous vehicle on the roads by 2021.

Once the autonomous taxi sector gets to a place where it is fully sanctioned and legal on UK roads, it is not beyond the realms of possibility for an entire fleet of autonomous taxis to be almost entirely operated by AI (artificial intelligence) technology.

However, there is virtually no indication about the regulatory framework for particularly autonomous taxis.

Taxi and private hire licensing and regulation exists primarily to protect the public. Driverless taxis present a significant complexity in regulatory law. For example, where a passenger is injured as a result of decisions made autonomously by a taxi, who is the legal entity responsible?

Autonomous vehicles, being purely mechanical beasts, cannot be held criminally liable. Other examples includes the use of autonomous taxis to traffic drugs seeing as there will be no supervision. Whilst we are in reality still some way off seeing the deployment of autonomous taxis on the UK’s roads, that reality is potentially not as far in the distant future as many may believe.

The reality is also that autonomous taxis will not be practical everywhere, however, in the capital and other large urban areas the possibility of autonomous taxis seems to be a real possibility within a matter of years.

There is a need for the Government to consider within its current review the licensing implications of autonomous taxis and what this means for the wider taxi and private hire trade and passenger safety.

February 07, 2019 at 01:54PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Stephen McCaffrey THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Petrol and diesel prices drop for third month in a row to give some relief for motorists

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More reductions predicted as motorist finally see lower fuel prices

Both petrol and diesel reduced by over a penny a litre in January making it three consecutive months of falling fuel prices. Data from RAC Fuel Watch shows the UK average price of unleaded came down by 1.32p to 120.92p while diesel dropped 1.27p to 130.01p. This means it now costs an average of £65.78 to fill up a 55-litre family car with petrol – £6 less than it did at the end of October. A tank of diesel, however, has only come down £3.78 to £71.50 over the same period. Prices at the country’s four biggest supermarkets are an average of 3p a litre lower at 116.66p for petrol and 125.43p for diesel. At motorway service areas, however, a litre of unleaded sets drivers back 138.87p and diesel 147.55p. RAC Fuel Watch figures show the wholesale price of petrol stayed flat in January while diesel increased by 2p a litre, but when compared to retail prices they were low still low enough to demand pump price reductions during the month. Sadly for drivers though, retailers decided not to pass these on. The RAC says this explains why the UK average price of fuel has fallen despite the wholesale market being static for unleaded and rising for diesel. If retailers were to pass on existing savings in their wholesale costs the price of petrol ought to reduce by 3p a litre in the next two weeks, and diesel by 2p a litre. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “While it’s obviously good news the price of fuel has fallen for three months in a row, the story behind the simple forecourt average figures is quite disturbing. Looking at the wholesale data over the last two months reveals that we should have been paying far less for our petrol and diesel than we have been. “Unfortunately, three of supermarket fuel retailers appear to have changed their pricing policies for the long term by increasing the margin they take on a litre of petrol to about 2p. This has meant the average price of unleaded has not reduced by as much as it should have because smaller retailers nearby haven’t had to lower their prices as much in order to compete. “The wholesale fuel market operates very transparently, but the same can’t be said of the retail market. We understand retailers are free to charge what they like for their fuel and that it’s then up to consumers whether they’re prepared to pay their prices or not. Unfortunately, consumers don’t have an easy way of knowing whether they are being charged a fair price so they have to trust they aren’t being ripped off. That’s why we always encourage drivers to check the current average price of petrol and diesel, and see if they can beat that price when paying for fuel locally. “Combine this with the fact some bigger retailers vary their prices from location to location, fuel is an essential purchase for most people and that shopping around is not that easy, and you have the perfect recipe for drivers being charged over the odds for what is essentially a commodity.”

February 06, 2019 at 11:57PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY RAC THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The gig economy should take note following historic workers rights deal says GMB

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“Companies across the gig economy should sit up and take notice”

Hermes’ self-employed couriers now have the option to take holiday pay and have guaranteed earnings following a groundbreaking deal between the leading consumer delivery company and GMB Union. The collective bargaining agreement is the first ever recognition deal of its type, and is designed to support the rights of self-employed people providing courier services to Hermes. It reflects that the world of work has changed and how employers can change with it. Hermes couriers can now choose to become ‘self-employed plus’, which provides a number of benefits such as holiday pay (pro-rata up to 28 days), and individually negotiated pay rates that allow couriers to earn at least £8.55 per hour over the year. In addition, those self-employed plus couriers that join the GMB Union will benefit from full GMB representation. This deal paves the way for other workers in the gig economy, most notably drivers at minicab firms Uber and Addison Lee. Tim Roache, the General Secretary of the GMB, said: “ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - the profits of companies in the 'gig econony' are made on the back of their workers. Too many jobs in our society are paid too little but those in the gig economy often experience increased insecurity, lower pay, long hours with tough (in some cases unrealistic) targets, for all of that, many end up paid below the minimum wage. “For years now, GMB has been calling out those companies who try wriggle out of their most basic responsibilities to their workers. Our case against Uber made international headlines when that poster child for the gig economy was told that their business model was not legal in the UK. “Today I’m proud to announce a groundbreaking deal that companies across the gig economy should sit up and take notice of. “Today we're launching a landmark agreement between Hermes, the leading consumer delivery company, and GMB Union. “This is the first collective bargaining agreement of its type, it will give enhaced rights and a real voice at work to self-employed workers in Hermes. “From today onwards couriers have the option to become ‘self-employed plus’. This will allow workers to retain the flexibility of self-employment (which many of our courier members want) while also giving them the certainty of guaranteed levels of earning, holiday pay and a a recognised union in their workplace.”

February 07, 2019 at 12:03AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Addison Lee drivers protest at Luton airport over low pay

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Private hire drivers of London based firm Addison Lee set up protest on Monday February 4, to highlight what they say are bad pay and conditions.

The protesters, represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), say their take home pay falls below minimum wage.

As reported by the Luton Today, a analysis report by the United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) shows Addison Lee drivers often work over 70 hours per week, earning little more than £1000, but after £270 in vehicle rent and 35% commission by Addison Lee are deducted, along with costs such as fuel, drivers take home around £225 per week in pay.

The IWGB is now calling for Addison Lee to: > Reduce commission to 20% from current levels recently increased to 35% > Withdraw vehicle rental price increase of £20 per week > Pay drivers for time they spend taking Addison Lee vehicles for maintenance and inspections

Sohail Choudhary, Chair of the Luton UPHD branch, likened the drivers working conditions to a "sweatshop" calling it a "disgrace." Drivers are also claiming workplace bullying protesting against the “indignity” of their treatment by Addison Lee. The majority Muslim workforce is required to make their daily prayers outside on the tarmac by the pick up rank.

A spokesperson for the IWGB said via their Facebook page: "Drivers for Luton at Addison came out despite winds and rain and protested 35% cut as well as sweatshop conditions for the app based employer, with bullying and unfair dismissals common for those working at the airport rank."

(Image credit: IWGB Facebook page)

February 06, 2019 at 07:13PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Could Mitsubishi, Nissan and Renault be looking to join Waymo in producing self-driving cars

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Its been revealed byCity AM that Mitsubishi, Nissan and Renault could be joining forces with Waymo in producing driverless cars.

The tie-up between the motoring giants with Waymo would see the development of self-driving taxis as well as other aspects of mobility infrastructure.However, it has been stated that the proposed alliance is nothing but rumour and conjecture, whilst Waymo declined to comment.

One possibility which has been mooted is the development of a fleet of driverless taxis, which would use Nissan vehicles. A booking system would handle bookings.

The alliance between Mitsubishi, Nissan and Renault has been under close scrutiny after former head, Carlos Ghosn was arrested by Japanese police on the grounds of under-declaring his pay for a number of years.

Ghosn, who was also Nissans' chairman has denied the charges.

February 06, 2019 at 05:34PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Madrid Taxi Drivers vote to call off strikes after 16 days of demonstrations against ride-hailing apps Uber and Cabify

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Taxi drivers in Madrid have called off their strike after 16 days of protests. The demonstrations which gridlocked streets for hours came to an end after taxi drivers narrowly voted for the strike to end. The action to bring the streets of Madrid to a standstill began 16 days ago as taxi drivers attempted to put pressure on those in power to regulate private hire vehicles, specifically those used by ride-hailing firms like Uber and Cabify, known as VTC’s. As reported in El Pais, a total of 20,961 drivers from the sector were asked to vote on a decision on whether or not the strike should continue. A total of 7,843 put their votes forward, with around 54% of those voting in favour of the demonstrations to end. The voting took place on Tuesday 5 at the taxi stand outside Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport. It has been reported that drivers have had to take out small loans to help cover their loss of earnings from attending the 16 days of strikes, which probably led to those voting for an end to the strikes for now. Many drivers need to get back to work and try and earn a living. Unlike in Barcelona where taxi demonstrations forced local government to regulate ride-hailing apps by introducing a minimum of 15 minutes prebooked times on all trips, Madrid drivers were not as successful. Currently no deal has been made with regional government, but organisers of the strikes have said it has not been considered a failure, stating that they have managed to unite all professionals and associations in just one name: “the Taxi.” Following the intense protests in Barcelona, both Uber and Cabify announced that they were suspending their services from the city.

February 06, 2019 at 12:34PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

UK government moves forward on advanced trials for self-driving vehicles despite industry expert concerns

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Trials could see NO driver or steering controls present in vehicles on UK roads

In a signal of support for the UK automotive and technology industries, the government has announced today that a process is being developed to support the advanced trials of automated vehicles despite concerns from market experts. Advanced trials will not be supported unless they have passed rigorous safety assessments, but could include the need for no safety driver or steering controls present in the vehicle. In response to feedback from industry, the government has also announced that its world leading code of practice for testing automated vehicles will be strengthened further to set even clearer expectations for safe and responsible trials. The government suggests that the news would reinforce the UK’s status as a global leader in the safe and responsible testing of automated vehicles despite widespread expert concerns that the technology isn’t ready for the roads yet. With the UK’s market for connected and automated vehicles estimated to be worth £52 billion by 2035, the government are keen to open investment from global transport technology companies. The government aims to meet its commitment to have fully self-driving vehicles on UK roads by 2021, as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy. Minicab firm Addison Lee and Oxbotica, a British self-driving vehicle software developer, agreed an alliance in Autumn 2018 that they claim will accelerate the implementation of autonomous vehicles on London’s streets. Under the agreement, the two companies agreed to collaborate on the development, deployment and operation of autonomous vehicles with a view to providing customers self-driving services in London by 2021. Jesse Norman, Future of Mobility Minister, said: “Thanks to the UK’s world class research base, this country is in the vanguard of the development of new transport technologies, including automation. “The government is supporting the safe, transparent trialling of this pioneering technology, which could transform the way we travel.” Richard Harrington, Automotive Minister, said: “The UK has a rich heritage in automotive development and manufacturing, with automated and electric vehicles set to transform the way we all live our lives. “We want to ensure through the Industrial Strategy Future of Mobility Grand Challenge that we build on this success and strength to ensure we are home to development and manufacture of the next generation of vehicles. “We need to ensure we take the public with us as we move towards having self-driving cars on our roads by 2021. The update to the code of practice will provide clearer guidance to those looking to carry out trials on public roads.” However, driverless industry experts have warned the technology is nowhere near ready for real world testing. Christian Wolmar, a transport journalist and author, said: “This is cart-before-horse stuff. This technology is nowhere near ready to be let loose without an operator in control. “This is so far ahead of what’s feasible and it is going to put lives at risk. We should have a driver on board at all times and even then I think these trials should be limited to more controlled areas like dual carriageways and motorways.” Charlie Henderson, a roads specialist at PA Consulting, said: “Everything I have seen in the last year suggests that the development of autonomous vehicle capability is still slow. We are likely to see autonomous vehicles in a very limited form on our roads by 2023 but there is unlikely to be widespread public adoption for ten years.” In March 2018 a 49-year-old woman was killed by a self-driving Uber, which included a human behind the wheel, as she crossed a road in Tempe, Arizona. The ‘code of practice’, first published in 2015, makes clear that automated vehicle trials are possible on any UK road provided they are compliant with UK law - including testing with a remote driver. The update to the code acknowledges the growing desire of industry to conduct more advanced trials, and a process to handle such trials on public roads is now being developed. Under the strengthened code, those carrying out trials for automated vehicles will be expected to publish safety information, trial performance reports and to carry out risks assessments before conducting a trial. Trialling organisations are also expected to inform the relevant authorities, emergency services, and anyone who might be affected by trial activity.

February 06, 2019 at 09:02AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cab driver's desperate bid to catch evidence of murder suspects on his dashcam to be heard in court

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The heroic efforts of a Northampton cab driver who desperately attempted to catch crucial evidence on his dashcam will be heard as evidence in an ongoing murder trial, a court was told on Monday.

Two men are standing trial for the murder of Daniel Fitzjohn, who died in Kingsley on June 14 2018.

Northampton Crown Court heard how a cab driver who drove Mr Fitzjohn and his friends around the evening of the murder and witnessed every step of the alleged attack fought to film the attackers as they attempted to flee the scene.

The jury heard how the victim, Mr Fitzjohn, got into a scuffle with his alleged attacker, Mr Quinn, who allegedly brandished a large branch at one of the group before he was punched to the floor by Mr Fitzjohn. Quinn then reportedly got into a grey Mini and drove it straight at the group, before driving off. Miss Loram QC said: "That should have been the end of it, but it wasn't." "The taxi [carrying Mr Fitzjohn and his friends] went to Brookfield Road to drop them off.

"But then the taxi driver noticed the return of the grey Mini." The driver warned his passengers of the approaching car, which 'abruptly' stopped behind them. The court heard that Quinn and another man, a Mr Sanghera, got out the Mini and ran at the group brandishing a knife and a machete respectively. Mr Fitzjohn then ran and was allegedly chased across Kingsley by Quinn. The prosecutor said that Mr Fitzjohn was caught, which is when he received two stab wounds to his abdomen.

The court heard how the cab driver spun his vehicle around and sped after Mr Fitzjohn to capture the alleged attack on his dashcam which he had set up on the front and rear windows of his cab.

The cab driver pursued Quinn and Sanghera up to the junction of East Park Parade and Kingsley Road 'to get their licence plates'. Then he called the police. The brave efforts of the cab driver meant that nearly every step of the events surrounding Mr Fitzjohn's death were caught on camera - including the alleged stabbing. Mr Fitzjohn was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead from his wounds the same night.

Miss Loram QC said: "It is the Crown's case that Quinn delivered those fatal wounds, while Sanghera was part and parcel of what happened... his behaviour makes him guilty of murder." As confirmed by the Northampton Chronicle, the court will hear the outline for the defence on Tuesday morning (February 5).

February 05, 2019 at 04:26PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Thousands of green taxis to benefit from new chargepoints

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More than £6 million in funding to be awarded to 17 local authorities across the UK

Today (5 February 2019) the government has awarded more than £6 million to support ultra-low emission taxis right across the country, furthering its ambition for a zero emission future. Announced at the Smart Transport conference by the Future of Mobility Minister, the funding will see almost 300 rapid chargepoints and 46 fast chargepoints installed for ultra-low emission taxis in 17 local authorities, including in Greater Manchester, Brighton and Hove, Leicester and the north east.

This announcement marks another milestone in the delivery of the government’s Road to Zero strategy and the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge which aims to usher in cleaner, greener journeys through UK engineering and technological innovation.

Jesse Norman, Future of Mobility Minister, said: “The government wants all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040. Getting the right infrastructure and investment in place is a crucial part of this.“Today’s funding will support almost 4,000 ultra low emission vehicles across the country. It is a further sign that the UK is making real progress in the transition to greener transport.” Richard Harrington, Automotive Minister, said: “The UK has led the world in cutting emissions while maintaining growth in our economy.“These new charge points for greener taxis will help accelerate a cleaner environment for people across the UK. This will also point the way for a better, healthier future for us all as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy which builds on the government’s long-standing partnership with the UK automotive sector.” It is estimated that more than 800 ultra-low emission black cabs and more than 3,000 ultra-low emission private hire vehicles will benefit from the new chargepoints, supporting a shift towards cleaner, greener transport. In another boost for the zero emission vehicle and automotive sector, winners of a £14 million competition to fund hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure projects have also been announced. The innovative technology these vehicles use has long range (300+ miles) and fast refuelling (3-5 minutes) capability, and will support the Industrial Strategy Future of Mobility Grand Challenge to place the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emission vehicles.

February 05, 2019 at 01:45PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Launching soon; The 100% electric Nissan Dynamo taxi

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The first 100% electric and emission free taxi is set for release in London this year offering the industry an alternative choice for the first time since the start of the electric revolution. The Nissan electric taxi follows the LEVC TX eCity on the streets of London after new regulation put in place by Transport for London means all new taxis registered must be capable of emission free driving. The Dynamo All Electric Taxi, built in Coventry by Dynamo Motor Company, is based on a Nissan e NV 200 Evalia and can ferry around 5 passengers. Most eye catching for drivers is the retail price of £45,495 after government subsidies/grants. The new electric taxi also has another huge selling point. Dynamo says it will cost less than £30 per week on electricity and will become the most cost effective taxi in the UK.

If the driver has the facility to have a home charger installed it will cost about £6 to do 174 miles, as opposed to around £35-£40 in current diesel taxis. That’s just 3p per mile, plus servicing is a fraction of the price too.

With the changing world that is under pressure from Diesel engines emitting poisonous gases, the Dynamo, being 100% electric and emitting zero tailpipe emissions is at the forefront of the Taxi world. With predicted strong residual values going forward, the Dynamo is also a sound business investment. A Dynamo spokesperson said: “Dynamo Motor Company are respectfully and humbly entering into the London Hackney carriage market. The Dynamo Taxi isn’t for everybody, but for those who ply their trade in the City, for those who are open to change and can see the benefits of Electric, it fits perfectly. “The range of 174 miles really is a game changer in the Electric Taxi market, it helps to remove any anxieties regarding range that drivers perceive. Being the only 100% zero emissions Taxi, drivers who sit in their “office” for up to 12 hours will no longer be breathing in their own poisonous fumes. “With proven reliability worldwide, running costs of around 3p per mile (home charging) the Dynamo offers huge savings for drivers in the Taxi world.”The key features of the Nissan Dynamo Like any business the whole purpose is to maximise profit, whilst giving customers a pleasurable experience. Dynamo hope to achieve all of this with a drive train proven to be reliable over millions of miles over the past 7 years. With fuel costs, as well as servicing costs drastically reduced and Government grants available for purchases, drivers will no doubt be drawn to the Dynamo as a way of future proofing their business. Dynamo are very confident that the new Taxi will deliver much lower running costs than any of its fossil fed counterparts.

The Dynamo is said to have been built with driver comfort a priority. Spending countless hours behind the wheel in whatever weather and driving conditions, drivers need to feel comfortable. Dynamo says the seats and driving position have been designed for extensive use without causing many of the physical issues associated with long hours behind the wheel.

The Dynamo is based on a Nissan – as such is developed and equipped with some of the world’s leading automotive technologies. With access to the UK’s Nissan dealership network, the Dynamo would never be far from support. With its low maintenance needs Dynamo confidentially predict the taxi will offer significantly lower running costs than any fossil fuelled taxi.

February 05, 2019 at 11:26AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Minicab drivers to block London Bridge to protest 'tax on the poor'

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Protests set to continue every Monday

Hundreds of minicab drivers are expected to block London Bridge with their cars as part of the growing protests against the regressive congestion charge introduced by Transport for London, which will see their take home pay slashed by 25%. The protest called by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain's (IWGB) United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) branch against regressive congestion charges on minicabs to be introduced in April, builds on three previous demonstrations that were attended by thousands of drivers. The protest will take place on Monday (4 February) from 16:00 - 18:00 and drivers vow to repeat the protest every Monday. TfL's own impact analysis showed a disproportionate impact on poor and BAME workers with 71% of TfL licensed minicab drivers hailing from designated deprived areas and 94% identifying as BAME. Black cab drivers, who are 80% white British, continue to be exempt from paying congestion charge. The growth of these protests shows the rising anger among minicab drivers that feel ignored by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who refuses to speak to them or address their concerns. The policy introduced by the Mayor and Transport for London amounts to a “tax on the poor” and will see minicab drivers’ take home pay slashed by up to 25%, while doing little to reduce congestion. TfL expects its policy to reduce congestion by only 600 cars per day or just 1% of the private hire traffic that goes through the congestion zone. Analysis included in TfL’s report to the Mayor shows that air quality is expected to get worse as a result of the plan. The IWGB proposes an alternative policy to deal with the problem of congestion, including:

A cap on the total number of minicab driver licenses.A licensing cost levy on private hire operators, based on the frequency of private hire vehicles from their fleet appearing in the congestion zone.To reduce the amount of time drivers spend on the road waiting for passengers, TfL should provide dedicated rest spaces for at least 4,000 minicabs.Minimum wage enforcement, which would provide the necessary incentive for operators to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Yaseen Aslam, Secretary of the IWGB's UPHD branch, said: "The Mayor has refused to engage with minicab drivers who will be pushed into greater poverty by this ruinous tax on the poor. London is one of the most profitable cities in the world for operators like Uber, yet it is drivers and their families, not the company, that are being made to bear the costs of fixing up congestion.Until the Mayor comes to the table and listens to us we are left with no choice but to further escalate our protests."

February 04, 2019 at 03:44PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Foot long knife used in attempted robbery on cab driver

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Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to an attempted robbery in Milton Keynes. At around 1.30am on Tuesday (29/1), the victim, a cab driver, was in Rillington Gardens, Emerson Valley, to pick up a fare. Two men got into the cab and one of them produced a large knife and held it to the driver demanding money. The victim, a 45-year-old man, was able to open his door and ran from the vehicle. He saw the two men run from the vehicle into an underpass in the direction of Shenley Brook End. The victim returned to his car and found nothing had been stolen. Both offenders are described as white, around 6ft tall and of skinny build. They were both aged in their late teens to early twenties, wearing black jackets, black tracksuit bottoms and black baseball caps. The weapon was described as a knife of around 1ft in length with a black wooden handle. The victim was not injured during the incident. Investigating officer Detective Constable Mandy Banfield of Force CID based at Milton Keynes, said: “This was a very frightening ordeal for the victim, but thankfully, he was not hurt due to his quick actions to get away. “I am appealing to anybody who was in the vicinity of Rillington Gardens at around 1.30am on Tuesday who believes they witnessed this incident to contact police.”

February 04, 2019 at 03:22PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Licensing authority investigates claims that a cab driver unleashed a barrage of punches on alleged bilker after footage emerged on social media

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Birmingham council bosses are now investigating an incident that saw a fight break out between a cab driver and a younger man which escalated from what is believed to of been an unpaid fare, according to a report in Birmingham Live. The incident, which was filmed by an onlooker, took place at Digbeth Coach Station on January 29. In the footage found on YouTube, the two men can be seen getting into a heated scuffle moments before the older man, believed to be a cab driver, began to throw a number of punches at the younger man. At least one of the punches appears to catch the younger man on the face, sending him to the ground. The younger man then scrambles to safety only to be followed by the alleged cab driver. Security and other members of the public then step in to stop the altercation and calm the older man down. Some who saw the incident on social media said that the alleged cab driver, who looked to be twice the age of his opponent, possessed some impressive boxing skills. Although the claim is that he was a cab driver confronting a passenger who refused to pay a fare, it is yet to be confirmed. Birmingham City Council’s licensing department said on Twitter: “We do not condone this kind of behaviour either towards or from our drivers. If this *is* one of our drivers, we will investigate and deal with it accordingly. Bilking is a serious issue for the trade, but violence is never the answer. #NoExcuses"

(Video credit:YouTube)

February 04, 2019 at 02:42PM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cabbie receives £1500 fine and driving ban after man loses leg

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A cab driver who confused his brake and accelerator pedal has been fined and given a driving ban.

52 year old James Manley from Camden was trying to manoeuvre his cab out of the way of a van in Southampton Street, Covent Garden when he accidentally hit the accelerator. This resulted in his taxi ploughing into a number of shoppers in the area, injuring several people.

The Evening Standard reported that Andre Straker-Brown had to have his leg amputated as a result of being pinned to a lampost by the vehicle. Another victim, Karen Brown, needed stitches to a head wound, whilst a third person, James Stewart had his foot run over.

Southwark Crown Court heard that the crash happened whilst Mr Manley was waiting for his partner to leave the North Face shop.

Manley who had been a cab driver for five years, but has since quit, was cleared of dangerous driving but convicted of two counts of dangerous driving, and was fined £1500 and given a two year driving ban.

February 04, 2019 at 04:30AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Wannabe Private Hire Driver who failed to disclose a previous charge of kidnapping has his licensing application refused

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A man who failed to disclose a previous charge for kidnapping on his licence application form has been refused a private hire drivers licence by Bolton Council. In 2007 the Wannabe Private Hire Driver was arrested and charged for kidnapping with intent to do grievous bodily harm - an event he denied when challenged by Bolton Council’s licensing authority. The man said that the only role he played during the incident was of him trying to calm the victim. Members of the licensing committee board found the applicants story to lack credibility along with inconsistencies in his evidence. A statement was also provided by the victim - And although it was subsequently withdrawn, he said that the content of his statement was true. According to a report first published in the Bolton News, the committee had worrying concerns that the applicant had been involved in a violent and serious event. A five hour long meeting was held by the licensing and environmental regulation committee where the man’s application was considered.

(The council chamber, Bolton Town Hall)

A statement by the police added weight to the committee’s concerns when they told the council that they did not consider the applicant a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver’s licence. The decision was made to refuse the man a licence. The committee said: “Members of the public, the elderly, infirm and children or vulnerable adults entrust their personal safety and wellbeing to private hire drivers whenever they take a journey. “Passengers often travel alone and are vulnerable to inappropriate behaviour. “The committee’s primary duty is of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the public. “There is therefore reasonable cause to refuse to grant the private hire drivers licence.”

February 04, 2019 at 09:36AM http://bit.ly/2UVulRY Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT