Derby taxi firm 'shocked' at reports cabbies flee city when inspections happen

A Derby taxi firm says it urges its drivers to be open with Derbyshire police and not leave the city when inspections are carried out.

Chads Cars commented after police claimed some city cabbies flee the area when they find out checks are being made.

Officers have said "very serious problems" were found when they inspected taxis in the city on Tuesday night.

As part of their monthly checks on the city's Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles, Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit stops vehicles at random and assesses their condition.

How we covered the story of last night's Derby taxi inspections

Officers said that, once drivers were aware checks were taking place, there were only a "few cabs left in the city".

A spokesman for Chads Cars, a private hire firm based in Mansfield Road, which operates across the city, said he found that information shocking.

The spokesman said: "I was not aware drivers in Derby are leaving the city and avoiding the area once they are aware inspections are taking place.

"It shocks me to hear that and we are absolutely clear that our drivers should not do that and I don't believe they do.

"My message to our drivers would be 'don't be afraid to get checked'. As long as the checks are being carried out correctly there should not be anything to be worried about."

https://goo.gl/K14QZB
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 TOKYO

 A pilot project has been launched in Tokyo, operating the city’s first autonomous taxi on public roads.

The vehicle has been developed by Tokyo-based robot maker ZMP and is being operated by taxi company Hinomaru Kotsu.

Running on a fixed 5.3km route, starting near Tokyo Station and finishing in the Roppongi entertainment district, the autonomous taxi makes four return trips per day which have to be booked online through a smartphone app. A one-way journey costs 1,500 yen ($13.5).

Tokyo Metropolitan Government is partly financing the project, which will run until 8 September 2018.

The two companies are aiming to begin full commercial operations in 2020; in time for the Tokyo Summer Olympics. There are also plans to operate test drives on a second route later in 2018, connecting the Haneda Airport and central Tokyo.

The vehicles, equipped with sensors, operates under full autonomy – turning, changing lanes and stopping on its own – however a driver is present behind the wheel in case of emergency.

A passenger on the first test run told Kyodo News: “It was such a natural ride that I almost forgot it was a self-driving car.”

It is hoped that autonomous mobility services will help address Tokyo’s shortage of drivers and the increasing demand for taxis. Self-driving vehicles will require the need for a driver, reduce the operating costs associated with taxi services and ease the shortage of public transport services in remote areas.

https://goo.gl/yfqojW