SHETLAND

A taxi driver who fell asleep at the wheel at Sumburgh Airport has been disqualified for one year and ordered to resit the extended driving test.

Vanessa Jane Johnston, 54, of St Magnus Street, Lerwick, was also fined £400 when she admitted a charge of dangerous driving – and is likely to lose her job as a result of the offence.

Her car crashed into a lamppost on 1st July, in an incident which Lerwick Sheriff Court heard “exemplified” the dangers of getting behind the wheel while too tired to drive.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said building work had been going on at the main terminal building, with scaffolding covering the exterior.

“She did not hurt herself, which was fortunate, but clearly there was scaffolding very close to it, and that could have been very significant,” he said.

The fiscal added Johnston had been working on a permanent night-shift for three years before changing her working pattern. She had struggled to adjust to her change in sleeping pattern.

“It exemplified the dangers of getting behind the wheel when you are tired.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Johnston was “full and frank” in her admission.

He added the collision was at a low speed and there was no-one else around.

Mr Allan said the consequences for Johnston were very serious, not least because she faced losing her job. He said she had felt tired, had opened her window and played music but had been overcome with tiredness.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Johnston: “As the procurator fiscal has said, this just goes to show the dangers of getting behind the wheel of a car when you are tired. Sometimes tiredness can come over you whilst you are driving, but I think you probably knew you were tired even before you set out.”

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2016/11/09/sleepy-taxi-driver-crashes-airport-lamppost?
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NEW taxi drivers in Loughborough will be asked to sit a three paper Written Knowledge Test by Charnwood Borough Council to assess their basic command of the English language.

The local authority says that the new policy, which has just been accepted, seeks to reinforce the “high standards for all new licence holders joining the trade.”

The council wants to remove the Highway Code Test and Hackney Knowledge Test, which taxi drivers must pay to take, and replace it with a new Written Knowledge Test.

There will be three papers – law, customer care and geographical.

In the report it states: “There is a requirement for a driver to be able to speak and write a certain degree of English, to be able to take instruction (i.e where to go) and write a receipt on request.

“The driver will need to pass all three papers, which will be based on the new policy.

“Should an applicant appear to be experiencing difficulty in completing the test officers will seek to ascertain why.

“Facilities will be made available if an applicant is dyslexic for example.

“If due to a language barrier, the applicant will be advised to seek a better understanding of English before continuing to resit the test.

“This is considered a reasonable and proportionate mitigating action.”

The council says the questions have not yet been written and will be compiled early next year.


https://goo.gl/WJswmE
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HULL

YOU'VE had a great night out in Hull and all you need now is to return safely home in a taxi. The only problem is, you don't have any cash.

It's a familiar feeling but one that city taxi firm Six 0 Cars has found the solution to.

The company is the only one in Hull that offers customers the opportunity to pay by card. Owner David Smith said: "Card payments in our taxis have really taken off.

"We have had about a 500 per cent increase in card payments in four months.

"It's not something we have really advertised so that is all just from word of mouth."

And it's not the only way the firm is using technology to keep clients safe and happy.

Keeping customers 'app-y'

The company's mobile phone app allows friends or family to track passengers from the beginning of their journey until they reach their destination. It's a simple way of providing peace of mind to customers and their loved ones.

"Passengers just have to push a button and their chosen contact will get a text to tell them that they are in a car," said David.

"They can then track them to see where they are for the entire journey until they reach their destination."


https://goo.gl/OL0s55
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HYNDBURN

Taxi drivers hailed their strike as a success after they say Hyndburn council agreed to meet them to discuss the issue of ‘write-off’ vehicles used as taxis.

Around 130 drivers protested outside Hyndburn council’s Scaitcliffe House on Ormerod Street, Accrington on November 7 against rules regarding taxis damaged under a category D insurance classification. Drivers are also campaigning against plans for taxis to have a ‘59’ plate or newer to meet European emissions regulations.

Taxi driver Raz Hussain said drivers spoke with the council’s chief executive David Welsby and were due for a meeting with them on Thursday, November 10.

He said: “We met with the chief executive and got an appointment. Rather than starting at the bottom we went to the top and now we might get somewhere.”

But Coun Gareth Molineux, Hyndburn council’s portfolio holder for resources, said Thursday’s meeting was arranged prior to the strike and the council would review the issue in the New Year.

He said: “We won’t make concessions that will put the public at risk.”

https://goo.gl/DjbMTU


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Taxi and private hire drivers in Slough have been praised after a recent stop and check operation gave them a clean bill of health.

Slough Borough Council’s licensing team, Thames Valley Police and the DVLA pulled over 31 licensed vehicles on Friday, October 28.

All of the drivers were found to be correctly licensed and their vehicles suitably taxed, insured and roadworthy.

Councillor Paul Sohal, commissioner for regulation and consumer protection, said: “All of the officers who took part in the operation said how extremely pleased they were with the high standard of vehicles and professionalism of the drivers.

“Yet again our licensed drivers have shown what a credit they are to Slough and I’d like to thank them for their co-operation.

“We will continue to carry out checks like these to ensure passengers are safe.”

https://goo.gl/0ur9T3
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A scheme by Harrogate’s West Park Hotel to encourage diners to leave their cars at home is becoming permanent.

The West Park Hotel’s trial scheme to encourage diners to take taxis and leave the car at home by deducting the cost of a taxi to the hotel from the restaurant bill was welcomed by the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Mayor of Harrogate when it was launched in August.

http://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2016/11/09/hotels-taxi-initiative-made-permanent/?#

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NEW YORK

Four officials at a Queens taxi cooperative conspired to embezzle more than $730,000 to buy cars, pay off credit card bills and build a swimming pool, prosecutors said Wednesday.

A grand jury indicted four former officials of Intaboro Acres, Inc., a black car taxi cooperative in Ozone Park, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced.

Founded in 1967 by a group of former yellow cab drivers, Intaboro acts as a cooperative — meaning its drivers are shareholders, and they get “radio rights” to drive a cab dispatched by the car service, prosecutors said.

Intaboro’s former president, Iqbal Ali, 60, and former vice-president Kubilay Durantas, 55, both of Staten Island, were indicted alongside its former treasurer Mitat Beymolla, 62, of Baldwin, N.Y., and former office manager Lisa Cruz, 39, of Bay Shore.


https://goo.gl/I7Du3s