DRIVERLESS TAXIS TO RUN IN LONDON WITHIN 18 MONTHS.

FiveAI has raised another £14m worth of investment allowing the company to trial self driving taxis across London.

Cambridge based start-up FiveAI has raised £14m worth of funds to roll out driverless taxi trials across London by 2019.

Following two rounds of investment the company now has £26.8m worth of investment and FiveAI hopes to develop a system for driverless cars to travel around London’s busy streets.

After the creation of driverless car programme routes has been created, a total of 10 electric driverless cars are expected to drive around the outer boroughs of the Capital and FiveAI expects the trials to begin across London by 2019.
The project aims to demonstrate that driverless technology is safe, efficient and better to the environment and can be safely used alongside existing road infrastructures.

Stan Boland, FiveAI CEO, spoke to Cambridge news and said: “London has one of the best public transport systems in the world.

“In the short term, from day one of the service launch the StreetWise project will increase public transport usage, reduce congestion and emissions and make out urban areas more liveable for all.”
The system will work by allowing customers to order the driverless taxis through a smartphone app, as you would with popular ride-hailing firm Uber.

By targeting the UK streets, the start-up company is hoping to gain a competitive edge over the likes of Silicon Valley companies, Google and Uber, who are currently carrying out tests in the US.

Following FiveAI’s initial £12.8m government funding from the Department for Transport, the firms latest round of funding of £14m came from the joint efforts of Lakestar Capital and existing investors Hermann Hauser’s Amadeus capital Partners, Notion Capital and Kindred.

The start-up has already successfully tested prototypes of driverless cars on private land around Cambridge.

Founded last year, the Cambridge based company hopes to expand the driverless system across Europe in years to come if the UK trials are a success.

http://bit.ly/2eHoYC5
---------------------------------------------

EDINBURGH
A PRICE war has broken out in the Capital between rival taxi discount schemes for the disabled.

In one corner, the city council’s Taxicard initiative with new partners Central Taxis – offering up to £3 off each journey for passengers struggling to get about.

And in the other, former council collaborators City Cabs’ Cab Assist scheme – undercutting the opposition with a £3.80 saving per trip.
“The taxi trade has a key role in supporting inclusion, especially for people with mobility issues,” said City Cabs company secretary, Les McVay.

West End-based City Cabs came up with their alternative after being dropped by the council in July after more than 30 years.

“When the Taxicard scheme changed, we were approached by many of our long-term customers expressing their desire to stay with City Cabs,” explained Mr McVay.

“In response, we are happy to offer what we feel is an enhanced and more user-friendly service.”
Other benefits of Cab Assist include no admin charge – compared to Taxicard’s £20 fee – unlimited journeys and potential availability to more immobile customers.

“We have created Cab Assist to be as user-friendly as possible based on our 30 years of involvement and experience of the Taxicard scheme,” said Mr McVay.

“We’ve had very positive feedback from those existing customers and we’re delighted to be able to roll out these proposals more widely,” he 
added.
Formed in 1925, City Cabs is a worker co-operative which has grown to comprise more than 1,100 drivers.

“City Cabs has always been committed to helping support inclusion and independent living, and we know that our service is heavily relied upon by many people who have mobility issues,” said Mr McVay.

“We’re determined to help lead the development and improvement of public transport in the nation’s capital.

“We provide an essential service for people of all incomes and from all backgrounds."

“As Edinburgh seeks to reduce car use, buses, trams and taxis will take more of the strain in helping transport people for work and leisure.
“A high-quality public transport service for everyone will help all Edinburgh’s residents make the most of the fantastic quality of life that Edinburgh has to offer.”

Cab Assist customer and cerebral palsy sufferer Marion Cumming, 67, of East Craigs, said: “I’ve been using City Cabs for a wee while now and it’s a good service.

“It means I can get out and about and to the shops that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”
A council spokesperson said: “The Council’s Taxicard service aims to help people with a disability, who may find it difficult to use public transport, to get around the city more easily.

“We are aware of City Cabs’ venture, and note that it adds another offering to the customer.”

http://bit.ly/2eHNNxM 
---------------------------------------

GRIMSBY

Councillors have gone back on their decision to raise taxi fares by the same level as a neighbouring local authority after the council received more than 50 objections from drivers, who claimed it could damage business.

Earlier this summer, more than 130 hackney cab drivers put forward proposals which would have seen the typical tariff rise by 10p a mile.

But in June, members of North East Lincolnshire Council's (NELC) community protection committee went a step further and agreed to adopt the same rates charged by East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) - a move which prompted 59 objections, 55 of which were from taxi drivers.

Because of the opposition, the matter was discussed again by members of the committee at Wednesday's meeting (September 6) at Grimsby Town Hall, where councillors decided to revert back to taxi drivers' original demands.  

Adrian Moody, licensing manager at NELC, said concerns had been raised by hackney carriage drivers that their trade could have been damaged after committee members agreed to adopt ELDC's higher tariff.

Between the hours of 7am and 11pm, hackney cab drivers across East Lindsey can charge up to £3.20 for the first half mile, with 20p for each subsequent 200 yards.

And customers travelling across East Lindsey between the hours of 11pm and 7am can expect to pay up to £4.80 per half mile, plus 30p for each subsequent 200 yards.

The rates are more expensive than those initially proposed by hackney carriage drivers in North East Lincolnshire, who wanted to charge £4 per mile and £1.60 each mile thereafter.

Councillor Ian Lindley said he agreed with the 59 objectors.
 
"When you look at more lengthy journeys you are looking at an £11 increase to go to places like Keelby. It's a significant increase and surely it will have an impact on the amount of users who use that service on a night time," he said.

"It's made me think in great detail about whether we should be approving this. In real terms it's a very significant increase."

Councillor Tim Mickleburgh, who was not able to attend the original meeting in which the committee decided upon ELDC's rate, said: "I think the original proposal was fair. Otherwise it would have been a large increase which would be born by people who often don't have transport of their own.

"If taxi drivers don't want it, why are we putting an extra burden on the people of North East Lincolnshire?"

Councillor Matthew Brown argued that adopting ELDC's rate would allow hackney carriage drivers greater flexibility when charging customers because the tariff was down to the individual driver's discretion.

"If we deal with a smaller increase in tariffs we are constraining them. It's about giving them freedom," he said.

Six councillors voted in favour of the hackney cab drivers' original proposal, while three voted against. Two members abstained.

http://bit.ly/2eHW4Sh 
---------------------------------------------------

LIMERICK


A BUS DRIVER bringing home Irish rugby fans got into a late-night fight over parking with a taxi driver and allegedly punched the taximan 10 to 15 times in the face and stomach.

Petrus Hoffman’s solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client lost his job as a result of his assault on taxi driver Sean O’Connor, 57, in November 2016.
Hoffman, of Huntsfield Avenue, Dooradoyle, Limerick, was bringing home Irish rugby fans after the Ireland versus Australia rugby match last November.

Inspector Kieran Ruane told Ennis District Court Hoffman got into the row with O’Connor in the carpark of the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis shortly after midnight on 27 November.

Ruane said Hoffman alleged that the way O’Connor’s taxi was parked resulted in his bus hitting a bollard and sustaining damage.

The inspector said that, as passengers were disembarking, Hoffman got out of the bus and started to verbally abuse O’Connor over the way he was parked.

According to the inspector, one witness said Hoffman punched O’Connor 10 to 15 times in the face and stomach. Hoffman has pleaded guilty to assaulting O’Connor.

Hassett said: “This wasn’t handbags. Hoffman clearly landed some punches on this man.”
Judge Patrick Durcan said: “This is an appalling case and a very serious case – by the nature of the assault but also by virtue of the circumstances surrounding it.”

Durcan said the court has to consider a prison sentence, a disqualification and a heavy fine for Hoffman.

Hassett said: “I hope to persuade you differently, judge.” He said O’Connor was parked incorrectly on the night in question and was parked in a yellow box.


Hassett said Hoffman was an excellent employee who took particular pride in his job, and that he blames the taxi driver for doing what he did and the damage caused to the bus.

Hassett said, as a result of the 10-second row, Hoffman – a married man with a teenage son in secondary school – lost his job. Hassett said his client had €2,000 in court to compensate O’Connor.

In his victim impact statement, O’Connor said the assault “left me traumatised”.

He said: “I was left bruised with a severe headache. I was unable to work, on doctor’s advice, for a week due to bruising, headache and stress. Subsequently, I am wary of strangers approaching me.”

Hassett said Hoffman is back doing some work for the State that involves driving and that a conviction would make it very difficult for him to get more work.

Hassett said his client has no previous convictions. Judge Durcan adjourned the case to 8 November.

http://bit.ly/2w9o07U
-------------------------------------------

ESSEX

A taxi driver who suffered a serious head injury while working a shift has died.

The man, thought to be in his 60s, was found in Ness Road, Shoeburyness, Essex at about 22:15 BST last Wednesday, police said.
His death is being treated as "unexplained", officers added.

Two teenage girls, aged 16 and 17, who were arrested last week have been released while further investigations are carried out.

Police said the man was from the Southend area.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-41179787