CARDIFF.

A taxi driver landed a pensioner in hospital for two weeks when he lost control of his car after taking a roundabout at 70mph and caused a six-vehicle pile-up.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Matthew Withers, 25, was travelling at more than twice the speed limit when he weaved between lanes and cut across the path of another driver.

Judge William Gaskell said: “This was a highly dangerous piece of driving.”

The court heard the incident occurred at 8.20pm on July 29 at a roundabout on the A4049.
Stephen Donaghue, prosecuting, said Withers was driving a silver Honda Integra north towards Pengam.

He told the court the defendant was seen to weave between lanes as he approached the roundabout.
There was a 30mph speed limit in place but police calculated he was driving around 72mph.

Prosecutors said expectant dad Withers wanted to turn left but he was in the right-hand lane so he cut across the path of the driver on his left to exit the roundabout.

Mr Donaghue said the defendant lost control of his car causing a collision that involved three moving vehicles and three stationary vehicles.

The court heard he hit the first car so hard it was pushed backwards into another car.
That car then “flew back” and hit three parked cars.

Prosecutors said one of the victims suffered shoulder pain and another soft tissue damage.
Margaret Smith, 87, was in the second car with her daughter, who remembered seeing the boot of the car in front of them hit their windscreen.
The prosecutor said Ms Smith had to spend two weeks in hospital.

She suffered a broken toe, neck pain, a lump and cut to her head, as well as tenderness in her hip and sternum.

Mr Donaghue said she depended on her car for mobility but has been scared to go out since the crash.

He added she is now unsteady on her feet and still suffers pain every day as a result of the incident.
The court heard she had been visiting her brother on the day of the crash and he died while she was in hospital, which prosecutors said had a “devastating” effect upon her.

Withers, from Wheatley Place in Blackwood, admitted dangerous driving.
Hashim Salman, defending, said his client had no previous convictions.

He said: “He has expressed sincere and deep remorse.”
The defence barrister told the court the Probation Service judged him to present a low risk of re-offending.

Mr Salman argued the offending was “wholly out of character” and told the court Withers is due to become a father for the first time later this year.
The court heard he was working as a taxi driver for the family business.

Mr Salman added: “He is a relatively young man of clean character. A hard-working, polite and courteous young man.”

He asked for any sentence of imprisonment to be suspended but the judge said the offending was too serious.

Judge Gaskell described his speed as “grossly excessive”.

He told the defendant: “This driving clearly calls for a custodial sentence. I am asked to suspend it. It cannot be suspended.”

The judge added: “It is pure good fortune the injuries were not more serious and it it no thanks to you.”

Withers was jailed for 12 months and disqualified from driving for two years. He must also pay a £140 victim surcharge.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/taxi-driver-caused-six-car-13551408
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UPPERMILL. (OLDHAM)

PARKING restrictions in a conservation village square have taken a new twist.

Problems began when conservationists complained a two-bay Hackney carriage rank had been painted the wrong shade of yellow in Uppermill.

They were backed by villagers and businesses who said paintwork on the protected cobbles looked like a "Banksy daub."

And, along with protests on social media, they said the black cab parking point should have been sited near the village museum.

However in 24 hours of complaints about the paint, a team from Oldham Council repainted the taxi rank lines on the square primrose yellow.
But today, campaigning Saddleworth parish councillor Lesley Brown, chair of Saddleworth Civic Trust, who initially demanded the paint change, said: "It's looks worse. The paint is primrose yellow, but it's far too bright. The taxi rank is totally in the wrong place."

She was backed by locals who argue the black cabs will still park outside eateries and customers would not walk to the new bays to collect them.
And one local said on social media: "A time-limited hackney rank sited at the bus terminus turning circle between 11.30pm and 6am would be a more practical solution.

"A private hire holding lane could also be created at the same location, negating the requirement to use the already limited public parking provisions in Uppermill."

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/105237/new-twist-in-the-tale-of-village-taxi-rank
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Wellington Airport. AUS

The airport has reached an agreement with the ride share company, which will see the airport charge Uber drivers drop-off and pick-up fees of $3 a ride - the same as taxi drivers are charged.

Uber will collect the money on the airport's behalf.
Wellington Airport departures
Wellington Airport Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Wellington Airport spokesman Greg Thomas said he was pleased the airport was the first to add ride-sharing to its ground transport services.

"This is another example of how we are making transport to and from the airport easy and convenient for travellers," he said.

Uber NZ general manager Richard Menzies said the agreement was a win for consumer choice.
"Uber is an app trusted by tens of millions of customers from more than 70 different countries across the world, and we're pleased visitors and locals will now have seamless access to the service at Wellington Airport."

The agreement follows the passing of the Land Transport Amendment Bill, under which ride-sharing services like Uber were recognised as part of the country's land transport framework.

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