CANTERBURY

Dramatic footage shows the moment a car salesman loses control and has a head-on crash - in a vehicle he had just sold.

The hapless Toyota worker had refueled the newly-sold car at a garage next door when he bungled a right turn and wrote off a £35,000 taxi.

The clip recorded by taxi driver Nicholas Carey shows the Toyota Yaris turn right in front of him before veering into the wrong lane.

The footage captures the moment the cars collide, causing the airbags in the Volkswagon taxi to deploy.

The bizarre incident happened in Canterbury, Kent, this April but Nicholas decided to release the footage after learning the salesman would not face any motoring charges.

Nicholas, 34, said today: 'I think they had just sold the car and they were filling it up with petrol from the station next door.

'I was just surprised and shocked as I couldn't too much about it. You certainly don't see too many videos like this.

'No one was prosecuted, it certainly looked like careless driving to me. You wouldn't do that normally.

'The car was a write-off, £35,000 and I had only got the van a few months before.'

Motorline Toyota Canterbury said they did everything to help Nicholas at the time

A spokesman said: 'It was an unfortunate accident that happened on a very busy stretch of road and has since been taken care of by our insurance company.

'The driver, who no longer works for us, reported losing control of the vehicle, and whilst any accident is unwelcome, we are pleased to say that no one was hurt in the incident.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6516363/Bizarre-moment-car-salesman-swerves-Toyota-just-sold-head-collision-taxi.html#v-1516531452044198774

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 BOLTON

WE have carried reports in the past about the council clamping down on rogue taxi drivers.

This is absolutely right because they are in a position of trust and can be responsible for vulnerable people ­— whether it is women on their own, or passengers worse for wear after a a night out.

But taxi drivers themselves are also at risk, on their own with up to four passengers they don’t know, in their vehicles.

They have reported verbal and physical abuse and now the police and council have joined them to launch the No Excuse for Abuse campaign.

On a daily basis, drivers in the town are suffering verbal abuse ­— which includes racism ­— and damage to vehicles, all of which will now be immediately reported to the police.

As with emergency services personnel, council and hospital staff, etc, taxi drivers should be safe at their place of work and earn a living without being threatened or attacked.

This is especially important in the busy festive period when there is a surge in demand for taxis ­— and those who responsible for aggression are relying on the same drivers to get them where they want to go.

Just as passengers expect to be kept safe during their journeys, the drivers taking them deserve the same protection.

While drink may play a part in some instances of aggression, there is no excuse for racist abuse and offenders should face the full force of the law.

https://goo.gl/V5iw8H
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 INVERNESS

 City Taxis driver Nigel Nicholson with NHS staff members at Raigmore Hospital.

Nurses, doctors and other NHS staff who have to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day , have been given an early festive present by an Inverness taxi firm.

City Taxis has announced that the mercy workers will only have to pay the much cheaper Tariff 1 fare instead of Tariff 3 which should apply on national holidays.

This special arrangement will mean, for example, that a nurse travelling across town from Kinmylies will pay around £10.10 to get to Raigmore Hospital instead of £17.50 which the Tariff 3 holiday rate would cost.

Boss Kevin Clark said: “This is really a big thank you to NHS staff because they can’t stop caring for people just because it is Christmas.

“All NHS staff will qualify for the reduced fares to and from work. All they have to do is show their NHS ID card to the driver before the journey starts and they will only pay the normal standard daily fare rate.”

A spokeswoman for the NHS said: “Thanks to City Taxis for their kind and thoughtful gesture. It’s good of them to think of staff at this time of year.”

City Taxis volunteers also helped forces veterans with free runs for those wishing to attend down town Remembrance Day events this year.

https://goo.gl/YicJMm
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 COVENTRY

An app-based private hire firm has been granted a licence to operate in Coventry - prompting strong claims of a council U-turn.

Coventry City Council have been strongly opposed to the licensing of app-based private hire firms such as Uber, but have this week granted eCars a licence to operate in the city.

The decision was a unanimous one at a Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday,December 18.

It is believed that the decision has been a long time coming, with an application for a private hire operators' licence first coming before the committee on August 14.

However, the decision was paused, as the conditions of a licence did not reflect on operators using mobile apps.

Last month, the Cabinet approved the updated conditions of the operators' licence.

Though a number of Coventry's existing operators use app-based technology, it is believed that eCars is the first to solely operate using an app-based booking system.
Claims of a council U-turn

Following news that eCars have been granted a licence to operate in the city, the Coventry Conservatives have claimed that it comes as a result of a council U-turn.

Cllr Tim Mayer said: "What appears to be critical is that this decision has been made possible by the recent departure of the former Cabinet Member responsible, Cllr Jayne Innes, who was blocking progress in the taxi industry, and updated conditions to the private hires operator’s licence that now reflect an operator using mobile apps.

"This has opened the door to more companies like Uber and Ola being allowed to apply for a private hire operator’s licence in the city.

“I am really pleased that the ruling group have finally performed this welcome but embarrassing U-turn on their previously confused position. It is fantastic news that local consumers can now start to experience a seamless door-to-door journey just from the touch of a button.

“This is a good move that may encourage more people to leave their cars at home.

"It is great to see that Coventry is finally now showing we are open for business, giving residents greater choice, better value for money and giving enterprise a chance to flourish.”
Council response

Coventry City Council has been quick to refute Cllr Mayer's claims, saying that there has been no U-turn.

Cllr Christine Thomas said that the council changed its licensing policies earlier this year to enable it to embrace new technology.

She said: "We were delighted to approve the application from eCars. They had applied for a licence earlier this year which we could not approve until we had updated our policy to allow approval of app-based private hire companies.

“We were very impressed by eCars who already operate out of Birmingham Airport. As a committee we all wish to see new technology embraced, and that’s why the licensing policies were updated.”

https://goo.gl/tbRzic