Uber has warned the UK not to over-regulate self-driving cars.

In the first solid indication that it is considering bringing the technology to the UK, the app-based taxi firm said any new bodies set up to regulate the vehicles should not "impede innovation or create artificial barriers".

The San Francisco-based company, which is currently working to develop autonomous vehicles in the US, told the Law Commission that there could be "natural tension" between innovation and safety and regulators should "avoid making concrete decisions where evidence is not yet available to support them".

It comes after Uber's self-driving programme was embroiled in controversy last March when one of its cars killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona, causing it to be suspended for several months. 

The firm was the only major US company working on self-driving technology to respond to a Law Commission consultation on how autonomous cars should be regulated.

It said it was working towards "level four" autonomy, which means the cars could pilot themselves on particular road types or in a specific geographical area. 

The automation industry uses a five-point scale to measure the capabilities of a particular system, with level five cars able to drive themselves in all situations. 

The Law Commission, which advises the Government on legal reform, is seeking responses to its proposals for regulating self-driving cars, which include potential criminal repercussions for anyone who is negligent while in charge of an autonomous vehicle. 

It is considering reviewing the corporate manslaughter law to make it applicable to companies when one of their cars has caused death or serious injury. 

It also asked whether cars should be allowed to mount the pavement to avoid an accident or allow an emergency vehicle to pass, and whether they should be able to "edge through pedestrians".

The consultation suggests having a “user-in-charge” who would supervise each vehicle, either acting as a back-up driver within it, or alternatively outside but within sight of it, such as in a car park where cars are controlled by an operator.

The person would be responsible for taking over if the car encounters problems or obstacles, or for cars which can only pilot themselves in certain areas, such as on motorways. This would not apply for cars which are part of a taxi fleet, which could be supervised remotely, the Commission said.

Currently, almost all self-driving cars are tested with a safety driver in the vehicle, though tests have been carried out on closed roads without a human supervisor, and Google spin-off Waymo has permission to test its cars on certain California roads with no-one behind the wheel.

Uber said it “welcomes the Commissions’ proposal that, unlike individual automated vehicles, where AVs are part of a fleet operated by a licensed operator they would not be obliged to have a user-in-charge.” 

The Law Commission said it was planning a further consultation on autonomous taxi fleets, such as the one which Uber is likely to operate. 

“Our intention is to publish a second consultation paper this autumn about how those who operate automated passenger services should be licensed,” it said. 

Other respondents to the consultation raised concerns about a remote supervisor potentially taking responsibility for multiple cars, something that Uber has not yet proposed.

In its consultation response, Transport for London said: “If the 'user-in-charge' were to be based outside the vehicle and responsible for many vehicles remotely, this could present concerns if they needed to resume control of multiple vehicles.”

https://yhoo.it/2RPY8uq

A MAJOR Oxford taxi company has reassured customers that wild rumours alleging one of its drivers raped female passengers are unfounded.

The claims against an unnamed Royal Cars driver were circulated on a Facebook page for students at Oxford University's St Anne's College last week.

A post, which appears to have been subsequently deleted, said there had been 'multiple allegations' of an individual driving women to 'isolated areas to rape them'.

St Anne's briefly stopped using Royal Cars while police investigated, but it is understood neither Oxford City Council nor the police have received any formal allegations.

The taxi company's human resources manager, Abdullah Banaras, said 'two or three' concerned colleges had contacted Royal Cars, but the firm had received no official complaints.

He said: "The colleges have been in contact quite a lot and said there's some hearsay going around.

"We've obviously spoken to police and the council and they said nothing has been reported."

He added: "No colleges have turned around and said they wouldn't use us.

"We work closely with many colleges and safety is our main priority."

http://bit.ly/2Xh7jd7 
------------------------------------
YORK

ACTING like a taxi driver will cost a former hotel manager more than £1,600 and may lead to him losing his licence to carry fares, York Magistrates Court heard.

David Jones, 51, has a private hire licence which only allows him to carry passengers who have pre-booked his services.

It does not allow him to take fares from people who flag him down in the street.

York magistrates decided, he had picked up an unbooked fare in Low Petergate on October 27 after watching CCTV of the incident and hearing prosecution and defence evidence.

Jones did not give evidence at the trial.

They convicted Jones, of Langholme Drive, York, of plying for hire as a taxi driver without a hackney carriage licence and driving without insurance. He had denied both charges.

They fined him £375 with £1,250 prosecution costs for City of York Council and a £37 statutory surcharge.

They also put six penalty points on his licence, but decided not to disqualify him from driving on the grounds of exceptional hardship.

He now has 12 points on his licence, three of which he got before the offence and three afterwards.

Antony Schiller, for Jones, said the city council will now review whether he should keep his private hire licence.

His car was insured for private hire use, but not for picking up unbooked fares.

Jones had been a Hilton Hotel manager who had had to leave his job after he had a heart attack brought about by work pressure.

He had only been a private hire driver for a matter of months and since the offence had not reoffended. He was self-employed.

Magistrates saw CCTV of a passenger leave Jones’ car immediately before two people approached it and after a conversation got in. The car then drove off.

They also heard there was no record of anyone booking Jones’ car for the time when the two people got in.

“We conclude and are sure the defendant agreed to hire his vehicle to them and therefore find him guilty,” they said.


https://bit.ly/2FItpuc 
---------------------------------------

Daimler AG-backed Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, just re-entered the UK market two years after its operating license was revoked

Even though Bolt has raised around $190 million to $280 million in funding so far, Morgan Stanley analysts say that Ola remains the main potential threat to Uber Technologies Inc.'s dominance in the London ride-sharing market, despite this month's return of the rival Bolt service to the UK capital,

Ola, owned by ANI Technologies Pvt, has said it will take on Uber in London before the end of the year, while Daimler AG-backed Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, just re-entered the UK market two years after its operating license was revoked for not being fit and proper company and operating without a licence.

Amazing what a company like this can achieve with TfL once they’ve raised a few bob. 

In the two weeks since Bolt resumed London operations, evidence suggests it is not having a material impact on Uber, according to Morgan Stanley analysts led by Brian Nowak. 

Uber's share of app downloads fell a little after Bolt entered, but has since recovered, they wrote in a report.

The greater threat is likely to come from Ola, the analysts say. If reports are accurate, Bolt has only raised around $190 million to $280 million in funding so far, small fry compared with the $3.8 billion Ola is said to have racked up, according to Morgan Stanley. TfL bosses must be frothing at the thought! 

"We believe Ola is arguably a greater threat if media reports of Ola's entry into London at the end of the year prove accurate," the analysts said.


Morgan Stanley remains bullish on Uber as the strong growth rates it continues to achieve demonstrate the potential for faster ride bookings and more revenue growth through the course of 2019. 

Src= Taxileaks
--------------------------------------------

LAST WEEK IN THE LORDS
 
Lord Jones of Cheltenham Liberal Democrat

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will reconsider introducing a statutory definition of (1) plying for hire, and (2) pre-booked, as recommended by the Task and Finish Group on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing.
 
    (Citation: HL Deb, 25 June 2019, cW)

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip), Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing issued on 12 February committed to bring forward legislation to enable national minimum standards in licensing, enable greater enforcement powers for licensing officers and to establish a national licensing database to assist in the sharing of relevant information. Legislation will be brought forward when time allows.

Taxis and private hire vehicle drivers are all subject to a ‘fit and proper’ assessment; any driver who poses a risk to public safety should not be permitted to hold a licence. Drivers are permitted to undertake pre-booked work outside of the area in which they are licensed. As set out in the Government’s response, the Government will consider how restrictions on out-of-area journeys might work in practice, with a view to legislating.

The Government response to the Task and Finish Group report explained that, since the Law Commission concluded in 2014 that a statutory definition of plying for hire would not be a practical improvement on the current position and there being no change in the legal situation, the Government would not take forward that recommendation.

WOLVERHAMPTON

More than 11,000 private hire licences were issued by Wolverhampton last year - more than anywhere else in the country - but only 852 of those were for drivers operating in the city.

A total of 11,811 licences were handed out by Wolverhampton City Council, with the majority issued to other areas of the country. It is a trend that has steadily been growing nationally, it has been claimed.

Until recently, drivers and their vehicles had to be licensed within the local authority (LA) they would be working in. However, a change in the law in 2015 opened up the market nationally - allowing councils to engage in cross-border licensing.

Councillor Alan Bolshaw (Lab. Merry Hill) who is chairman of the council's licensing committee, said Wolverhampton's high standards "provided an exemplar for other local authorities to follow" and claimed many other councils had already come to them for advice.

He said the change in law opened the market nationally and allowed private hire drivers a choice.

"There has been negativity in the press, from other councils and some existing drivers. They claim to be concerned about the public being put at risk because of the way in which drivers and vehicles are licensed.

"These concerns are unfounded and commercially motivated, as our approach - coupled with technological and legislative changes - has disrupted the market on a national level.

"In some areas, private hire vehicles, which had been artificially excluded from working, are growing at a tremendous rate. This has caused existing drivers to complain about their reduced income. We have invested heavily in our digital licensing service, thereby reducing the time and cost it takes to process applications.

"Consequently, we are receiving a higher number of applicants than many other LAs which use more old-fashioned methods and where applications can take as long as two years to process," he added.

"This restricts the ability of private hire operators to expand their businesses and unfairly delays applicants the opportunity to work. Operators across the country have praised us for significantly increasing the efficiency and quality of the licensing process for applicants."

There are three licences involved for a private hire driver - someone who must pick up pre-booked fares only and not those who hail them from the street like Hackney Carriage drivers. There is one for the firm, one for the vehicle and one for the driver.

In Wolverhampton, the cost of obtaining a licence is £284 compared to £460 in Stockton, £470 in Cleveland and Redcar and £474 in Middlesborough.

A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council said that as a result of licensing drivers from outside the city, it carried out enforcement operations all over the country.
 
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk
---------------------------------------

Taxi-hailing app Uber has agreed out-of-court settlements with two women who were sexually assaulted by one of the firm's drivers.

The victims, who did not know each other, were picked up by Naveed Iqbal on different evenings in Leeds in December 2015.

Both said he assaulted them in the front seat of the vehicle.

Lawyers Irwin Mitchell said it was the "first known case of the kind in the UK" against Uber.
Uber said it had "investigated thoroughly".
'Life turned upside down'

Leeds City Council started an investigation into claims Mr Iqbal used his brother's Uber driver login while he was away and assaulted the women.

It found the account did belong to the brother, but he was in Pakistan at the time.
A judge said [Naveed Iqbal] carried out the attacks "on the balance of probabilities", Leeds Crown Court heard in November 2017.

No criminal charges were brought but he lost his private hire licence and was told to pay £1,500 in fees.

Irwin Mitchell said Uber had agreed "undisclosed settlements".
The first victim said her "whole life has been turned upside down since that night", while the second said: "That one night has had such a negative impact on my life and to hear that it happened to another woman a week earlier was horrible."

Lawyer Emma Crowther, who acted for the women, said: "If Uber had properly investigated the alleged assault suffered by our first client then we believe that the driver would not have been free to go on and pick up the second woman just a week later, during which it is reported he escalated in his abusive behaviour."

An Uber spokeswoman said: "There is no place for this kind of behaviour in the Uber community. We take all reports very seriously and investigate thoroughly.

"We typically waitlist drivers during investigations and if the allegations prove true, an individual would likely face permanent deactivation."
Leeds City Council said: "The individual [driver] in question was suspended immediately and not allowed to drive a private hire vehicle as soon as we were informed.

"Subsequently, following an investigation, we took the decision to revoke his licence in June 2016, which was consequently supported by a judge at an appeal hearing in July 2017."

https://bbc.in/2Ne2DA6

 ROCHDALE
 
A former taxi driver has been prosecuted after he drove a taxi without a hackney carriage licence and car insurance.

A member of our licensing team witnessed Matloob Hussain, of Derby Street, driving a Rochdale Borough Council licensed hackney carriage vehicle in Middleton in July 2018 despite having had his licence revoked.

Mr Hussain, aged 48, was banned from operating a taxi when his licence was revoked with immediate effect in March 2018 by our licensing panel. The panel found that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence and was told he was not permitted to drive any Rochdale Council licensed hackney carriage vehicle.

At Manchester and Salford magistrates' court on Monday, 17 June 2019 Mr Hussain entered guilty pleas to driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

For driving without insurance, he was fined £162 and is disqualified for driving for 6 months under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

For operating a hackney carriage without a licence he was fined £50, ordered to pay costs of £1126 to us, as well as a victim surcharge of £30.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "We want to ensure that our residents can travel safely and confidently around the borough.

"It is important that we pursue prosecutions like this to penalise people who ignore the safety of our residents and our licensing team do a great job of clamping down on anyone who doesn't comply with licensing standards."

https://bit.ly/2J2DIdm
---------------------------------------

NORTHUMBRIA

An estate woke up to the sound of screaming as a three-man gang robbed a taxi driver in a "vicious" attack.

Using a weapon, the brutes fractured the 28-year-old's skull and snatched his cash in the middle of the night in Meadow Well.

Horrified locals behind a police cordon woke to blood-stained doors, cars and roads as a manhunt was launched.

A few hundred yards away, police probed the scorched site in which the gang torched the taxi before making their getaway.

Exclusive pictures obtained by ChronicleLive show the vehicle on fire with a witness claiming: "It just went boom.

"There was flames everywhere and there was an explosion every few minutes.

"I thought there must have been guns in the back due to the way it was banging."


Northumbria Police claim the thugs attacked the driver in Weyhill Avenue after flagging him down shortly after 12.30am on Wednesday.

Several locals claimed the driver desperately banged on doors on nearby Avon Avenue seeking help.

"He was braying the door and looked like he had a pipe or stick in his hand," claimed one onlooker, who asked not to be named.

One man, who also requested anonymity, claimed he rushed to the driver's aid until paramedics arrived.

"He was full of blood," claimed the Good Samaritan, who said the man was clutching a 'wheel brace'.

"He had been slashed to his face and was holding his stomach."

ChronicleLive understands the man's injuries, which are not life-threatening, are not thought to be consistent with a stabbing.

However officers were seen carrying out door-to-door enquiries on Wednesday morning as it probed what Inspector Judith Scott called a "vicious assault".

“We will take robust action against those found to be involved and a team of detectives are now carrying out an investigation to locate those responsible," she said.

https://bit.ly/2IPhDAc
----------------------------------

NEW YORK

A policy change by Lyft has enraged Uber and could increase congestion by shifting cars from the outer boroughs to Manhattan.

Starting June 27, Lyft drivers will not be able to get onto the company's app if they are cruising where few people are demanding rides. Instead, they will have to wait until demand picks up, or drive to a busier neighborhood—Midtown, for example, or Downtown Brooklyn.

Drivers will have to keep looking for busy areas throughout the day, or risk getting thrown off the app until demand increases.

Some Lyft drivers will be exempt—the ones who accept 90% or more ride requests and have completed at least 100 rides in the previous 30 days. Insiders say that is likely to be a small portion of them.

The policy is Lyft's reaction to new minimum-wage rules that it unsuccessfully challenged in court—and which it says benefit Uber.

The new payment formula looks at how much of the time a driver cruises with an empty car. The more cruising a driver does, the more fare revenue the app-based company needs to share to ensure the driver makes at least $17 an hour after expenses.

App-based services with a high "utilization rate"—meaning their drivers are ferrying passengers nearly 60% of the time—can contribute less to the driver's pay. To reduce congestion in Midtown the Taxi and Limousine Commission wants fewer empty cars.

Both Lyft and Juno have argued that Uber, which has more users than its competitors, will need to chip in the least to make their drivers whole. The TLC has been using an industry-wide utilization rate but in February 2020 will begin using company-specific rates. Lyft is acting now because the agency will calculate next year’s rates over a six-month period that starts July 1.

By keeping drivers off its app when demand is low, Lyft will boost its utilization rate. It could also hurt Uber's, as drivers switch to Uber's app, flooding its platform with available cars.

It is possible that demand could pull traffic out of Manhattan: A recently released TLC study found that for-hire vehicles' utilization rates in Brooklyn and the Bronx in June 2018 were higher than in Manhattan’s core. But Lyft has argued that the city's formula incentivizes drivers to pursue short, low-speed trips—the kind that are typical in the central business district—rather than the longer, faster trips common in the rest of the city.

Lyft emailed its drivers today about the change and put up a blog post with suggestions for working with the rules.

"Because of the TLC regulations, we're making changes to the Lyft app which will limit the number of drivers who can log on when there isn't a high demand for rides," a spokesman said in a statement. "This means some drivers may have to wait to drive or may not be able to drive at all. We believe these new rules are misguided, but are working diligently to support drivers during this change."

Uber sees Lyft's move as a slap to the face.

"Once drivers are kicked off of the Lyft app, they will immediately log on to Uber, significantly increasing the vehicles on our platform without taking a car off the road," an Uber spokeswoman said in a statement. "We will continue working to ensure that we can provide sustainable earning opportunities for drivers and affordable trips for riders."

The Independent Drivers Guild, which represents app-based drivers and gets funding from Uber, said Lyft was ignoring the city's requirement that the payment formula take into account the time a driver spends "waiting for a dispatch and then traveling" to pick up passengers.

"This is Lyft trying to avoid paying drivers for all of their time on the app as required in New York City—and city leaders cannot allow it," a guild spokeswoman said in a statement. "By forcing drivers to log off the app and drive to a new location before they can get back on, they are shifting the costs for those miles and minutes back on to drivers in violation of city rules."

https://bit.ly/2KFzLPh
 

Transport for London has apologised for offence caused by an ad for taxi-hailing app Kapten that it said it approved "in error".

The execution was part of a campaign themed "Get me out of here" and showed a picture of a sinister-looking man paired with the copy: "When you recognise your blind date from the news… Get me out of here Kapten."

Campaign contacted TfL yesterday morning (Monday) after seeing a number of critical comments about the ad. Mollie Goodfellow tweeted a picture of the ad, commenting: "It’s funny because women might meet a murderer or rapist on a blind date and might need to escape to protect themselves."

TfL notified Campaign last night that it had decided to take the ad down, adding that Kapten had also contacted its advertising agent (Exterion Media) to ask for it to be taken down.

Kapten also apologised for any offence caused and its London general manager Mariusz Zabrocki told Campaign: "We received the first complaints on Friday and we started taking down this ad on the same day. TfL contacted us on Monday and we decided together to take it down everywhere in the TfL network immediately."

TfL provided the following statement: "This advertisement was approved in error and we apologise for any offence it has caused. We are working to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. The advertisement does not meet the requirements of our advertising policy and is being removed from across our transport network. Kapten have also said they will not use this poster in any future campaign."

The matter may have been escalated by Siân Berry, the Green Party London Assembly member, who replied to Goodfellow’s tweet yesterday morning with a promise to ask the mayor "how that happened".

"It literally jumps at you with offensiveness and there are supposed to be checks," Berry tweeted. "TfL themselves have good adverts on safe travel so how it was missed I don’t know. Grim."

Kapten hired creative PR agency Taylor Herring last month to promote the ride-hailing service in London after a competitive four-way pitch.

https://bit.ly/2X5SGUV

LONDON

Drivers of older diesel cars will be charged as much as £50 a day to use their vehicle in central London, with some of the proceeds used to help protect schools from air pollution.

Westminster city council is creating a £1 million “schools clean air fund” to pay for temporary road closures outside schools, air filters in classrooms, planting trees to help absorb pollutants and other measures to reduce children’s exposure to toxic fumes.

The money will come from a 50 per cent surcharge on parking fees for diesel vehicles registered before 2015 and will be rolled out from September.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/diesel-drivers-face-50-in-fees-to-take-car-into-london-pzjdkkszf 
-------------------------------------

 EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT

An airport has increased the cost of parking for dropping off passengers despite a U-turn on a previous rise.

Parking for 10 minutes in East Midlands Airport's rapid drop-off zone has increased from £2 to £3 for 10 minutes and costs £1 for every minute after.

It comes after the airport recently scrapped new charges of £2 for five minutes and £1 for every minute after.

An airport spokeswoman said it needed funds to improve the infrastructure of the drop-off zone.

Taxi driver Terry Lees, from NG11 cars, said: "I think it is absolutely scandalous to charge you £3 just for the privilege of dropping someone off. It is ridiculous."

After the airport introduced charges of £2 for five minutes earlier this month, motorists reported the cost of dropping off passengers rising because of congestion getting out of the car park.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-48745753
-----------------------------------

BRIGHTON

Taxi fares look likely to go up in Brighton and Hove if an increase is approved by councillors this week.

The local taxi trade has blamed newcomer Uber for a proposal to put up the minimum cost of hailing a cab from £2.80 to £3.

And fares are expected to rise by 20p a mile from £2.20 to £2.40.

Local firms blamed Uber, saying that it operates private hire vehicles only so is exempt from charging the fares set by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The local taxi trade – in a submission to the council – said that Uber’s use of “surge pricing” when it’s busy or the weather is poor has helped the newcomer to recruit drivers.

Uber can pay more while the local taxi trade is restricted to charging the fares set by the council.

This has made it harder for the local taxi trade to compete on a level playing field, prompting the request for the first fare rise since March 2015.

A report to the council’s Licensing Committee said that local cab companies had “mixed fleets” made up of taxis – also known as hackney carriages – and private hire vehicles.

And because they operated mixed fleets, even private hire drivers stuck to the same tariff as taxi drivers to give passengers a clearer idea of what they could expect to pay.

Since fares last went up more than four years ago local drivers said that they had absorbed higher petrol and diesel prices and that other costs had risen too.

The report to the council’s Licensing Committee also said that Brighton and Hove drivers had to maintain their vehicles to a higher standard than elsewhere.

National league tables for fares suggest that Brighton and Hove is one of the most expensive places in the country to travel by taxi.

Only a couple of dozen councils set higher fares out of 363 councils with responsibility for licensing.

https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/business/taxi-fares-to-rise-in-brighton-and-hove-1-8973334 
-----------------------------------------

 NATIONAL TYRE LAWS

New laws banning older tyres on large vehicles to improve road safety could be introduced later this year. Tyres aged 10 years and older would be banned from use on buses, coaches, lorries and minibuses in new proposals being consulted on from today (23 June 2019). If supported, the new rules could be in force by early 2020.

The consultation follows a passionate campaign by Frances Molloy, whose son Michael died in a coach crash caused by a 19-year-old tyre in 2012. Her work with the ‘Tyred’ campaign led to the consultation being launched today.

Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis said:

    Our priority is keeping people safe on our roads, and we are taking action to reduce the number of people killed or injured.

    There is increasing evidence that age affects the safety of tyres, which is why I think older tyres should not be used on large vehicles.

    I would like to thank Frances Molloy and the Tyred campaign for their work raising this important issue – the changes we are consulting on could save lives.

The consultation, which runs for 10 weeks, asks whether older tyres should be banned on buses, coaches, lorries and minibuses as well as whether this ban should be extended to taxis and private hire vehicles. It follows other measures the government has put into place since 2012.

https://bit.ly/2ZN2t3Z
 

Alex Norris Labour/Co-operative, Nottingham North

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answers of 2 February 2019, 12 March 2019, 14 March 2019, 7 May 2019 and 9 May 2019 to Questions 252470, 251220, 232503, 231454 and 220057 on taxis: licensing, when the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals on taxi and private hire.

(Citation: HC Deb, 20 June 2019, cW)

Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)

I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous answers to the questions he has referenced.
----------------------------

Lord Jones of Cheltenham Liberal Democrat

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they provide to encourage operators of public service vehicles, including taxis, to switch to electrically powered vehicles, in order to meet their de-carbonisation targets.

    Hansard source
    (Citation: HL Deb, 19 June 2019, cW)

 Baroness Vere of Norbiton Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip), Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since 2010 the Government has provided almost £150 million to bus operators and local authorities to support the purchase of the cleanest buses. In February 2019 the winners of the £48 million Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme were announced, providing funding to support the purchase of 263 zero emission buses and supporting infrastructure.

The Government continues to run the £50m Plug-in Taxi Grant Scheme, which offers up to £7,500 on the price of eligible ultra-low emission taxis. We have also awarded just over £20m in funding across 27 local authorities to install over 900 chargepoints dedicated to ultra-low emission taxis and private hire vehicles.
--------------------------------------

Neil Coyle Labour, Bermondsey and Old Southwark

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of restricting cross border hiring by taxis and private hire vehicles; and whether representations from external stakeholders are being taken into account in that assessment.

    Hansard source
    (Citation: HC Deb, 18 June 2019, cW)

 Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)

The Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing considered the regulation of the industry, including the issue of cross border hiring. The report of the Task and Finish Group was published on 24 September 2018.

On 12 February 2019 the Government published a response to the recommendations made by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-licensing-government-response-to-independent-report.

As indicated in the response, the Government will consider further, with a view to legislation, the Chair's recommendation around tackling cross-border working, including how it might work in detail.

The Task and Finish Group was made up of external stakeholders and the Group sought and received representations from a range of stakeholders within the taxi and PHV sector. The Department will continue to liaise with stakeholders on any cross border proposals.

London

Drivers of the most polluting diesel cars will have to fork out up to £50 a day, to use their vehicle in central London, when new rules proposed by Westminster Council come into force.

Officials are starting a £1 million “schools clean air fund” to pay for temporary road closures outside schools.

Drivers of the most polluting diesel cars will have to fork out up to £50 a day, to use their vehicle in central London, when new rules proposed by Westminster Council come into force.

Officials are starting a £1 million “schools clean air fund” to pay for temporary road closures outside schools.

Air filters will be installed in classrooms, and trees planted to help absorb pollutants, along with other measures to protect children from pollution.

A 50% surcharge will be added to parking fees for diesel vehicles registered before 2015 and will be rolled out from September.

The levy will vary across the area, with visitors to the West End paying out £7.35 an hour for pre-2015 diesels and £4.90 for other cars.

It could see drivers parking for four hours stumping up more than £50 a day for entering central London, once the the £12.50 Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge and £11.50 Congestion Charge is taken into account.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said such policies amounted to a “diesel demonisation tax”, which was crude and unfair.

He added: “Many modern diesels are cleaner than older petrol models,” he said. “It would be far more effective to target the 10% of gross polluters that cause 50% of the problem. These are often older buses, taxis and trucks.”

A parking surcharge trial in Marylebone found the scheme reduced the
number of older diesels visiting the area by 16%.

Officials said drivers avoided parking on nearby streets, which cut pollution rather than displacing it.

The plans were drawn up after it was found that only two of Westminster’s 87 schools were above the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide.

Temporary road closures are also due to be introduced outside at least 20 schools at drop-off and pick-up times.

Schools will be for a share of the £1 million fund to fund road markings and signage needed for the closures.

Nickie Aiken, the council’s Conservative leader, said 75% respondents to a consultation on the surcharge supported the proposal.

She added: “We don’t want to punish drivers but the evidence is overwhelming. We need to take a polluter-pays approach. We know that transport is responsible for half the most deadly emissions in the air and each year 40,000 deaths are linked to pollution.”

Camden, Islington and the City of London are among councils that already have diesel parking surcharges.

-------------------------------------------------

Ride-hailing app Kapten changed its whole image before its launch in London, but vestiges of its former life still appear when you match with a driver.

Until February, the app was known as Chauffeur Privé, and its drivers were encouraged to wear a uniform of a suit with a compulsory red tie, matching the silhouetted figure in the company logo. The French firm – which is backed by BMW and Daimler – rebranded to Kapten as part of expansion plans, with a new logo and advertising that seems to be aimed at a younger audience.

Drivers are no longer asked to wear a tie, but the company is now editing their in-app profile pictures to make it look like they’re dressed in a suit, even if they’re wearing something more casual in the original photograph.

A spokesperson for Kapten says the pictures are “processed by an in-house software” which takes the driver’s face and adds it to a “standardised bust wearing a blue suit,” adjusts the framing and applies standard filters for brightness and background. They stress that the faces themselves are never modified or edited.

The company says the process – which has been going on since before the rebrand – is designed to standardise more than 20,000 different driver photos that it receives each year, each one with different brightness levels, background, framing and view point. “The objective is to standardise a large set of pictures, which are de facto without any common features, and give passengers an easily identifiable picture of their driver,” it says.

The editing is applied to every driver photo that gets uploaded onto the app, and the Kapten spokesperson said that drivers were fully aware of the process. However, users on Uber People, an online forum for ride-hailing drivers, expressed surprise that their pictures had been changed. “Log onto the app to see that kapten have photo edited my profile picture so that I have a black blazer over a white shirt!” wrote one in a thread called ‘Lol kapten’. “I look smart,” said another.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/kapten-london-uber-driver-photos
------------------------------

 Guernsey

Introducing a tax for each mile covered by vehicles would be an administrative nightmare, according to a director of Island Taxis.

Simon Rebstein was speaking in light of Policy & Resources’ proposal that a distance charging mechanism be introduced to ensure financial contribution from all vehicles based on usage.

He preferred the old road tax system, as it did not rely on revenue from fuel.

‘Personally I think to introduce this usage tax would be an administrative nightmare and would mean increasing the size of the civil service, creating more of a burden on the taxpayer and defeating the object of its introduction.’

The usage tax has not yet been agreed and Mr Rebstein said he hoped it fell at the first hurdle.

Leon Gallienne, president of the Guernsey Taxi Federation, said he, too, was against the ‘badly thought out’ proposal.

‘If [P&R] had come and spoken to businesses out here they would probably get a better idea of what might work and what might not from the people it will hit the hardest.

‘We [taxi drivers] are struggling as it is to get more drivers, we’re working longer hours and this will put even more strain on us.

‘On a number of occasions we are being hit the hardest and there’s only so much we can take.’

Mr Gallienne thought taxing fuel would be best, although P&R has said that at some point in the future, the proportion of vehicles using motor fuel would decline to an extent that a distance charging mechanism could be used.

Martin Langlois, general manager of Ferryspeed, also said the existing system of taxing fuel was a better option. ‘Taxing by vehicle usage will have a significant effect on the cost of operation on the island, unless P&R have thought of a way to discount it for businesses.’

Ferryspeed handles deliveries to shops of food that comes into the island daily, as well as being responsible for the delivery of other goods.

‘We have no choice but to be on the road, making multiple drops, as chilled, frozen and ambient goods cannot be delivered together.

‘Firms like ours are being penalised in this situation and we are being expected to take it up as part of our costs, but those costs are becoming unreasonable [and] any future additional costs will have to be passed on to customers,’ Mr Langlois said.

He also questioned how taxing vehicles by their usage would be monitored.

https://bit.ly/31SUepd

Two Stoke-on-Trent cabbies have landed themselves in court - after trying to cover up a taxi crash.

Burslem-based ABC Supreme Private Hire operator Neil Wilkes says he did not allow Stoke-on-Trent-licensed driver Salam Ibrahim to drive a cab licensed with Newcastle Borough Council.

But he admitted asking his brother to fill in a council accident form to say he was driving the vehicle.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation when he appeared at North Staffordshire Justice Centre this week.

It followed 51-year-old Ibrahim - who admitted the same offence - being involved in a crash at the junction of Hamil Road, Burslem, last June.

Instead of informing Stoke-on-Trent City Council of this accident, he lied and told them he was driving a privately-owned vehicle in Warrington when he had the crash.

The prosecution was brought on behalf of Newcastle Borough Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Prosecutor Collette Lamb said: "Neil Wilkes told Newcastle Borough Council that Salam Ibrahim had taken the wrong vehicle as his base holds licences for both Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle.

"Had the accident been properly reported to the council, they would have been aware that an unlicensed driver had been involved in an accident."

Referring to Ibrahim's involvement, Ms Lamb added: "It was only when Stoke-on-Trent City Council received court documents that they realised the collision was in Burslem and not Warrington.

"At a later date he admitted this in an interview with the city council and said the base operator told him to lie on the form."


The court heard Wilkes, of St Andrew's Mews, Wychwood Village, had become bogged down by pressures in his personal life and hadn't realised Ibrahim had taken a Newcastle Borough Council cab.

Scott Anderson, mitigating for Wilkes, said: "He is a gentleman who has not had any difficulties with the council previously. He has a lot going on in his personal life.

"He has elderly parents and a mother who is suffering from dementia and he is spending a lot of time on her care.

"Also his own health has suffered as he found a cancerous lump on his back which has since required treatment.

"Both the vehicle and the driver were licensed in some respect. This was somebody who made a rash decision - a rash decision because he wasn't thinking straight."


Magistrates handed 51-year-old Wilkes a £1,045 court bill for the offence.

Magistrate Jonathon Dennatt told him: "You were responsible for the decision. It was a very silly decision."

The court heard Ibrahim, of Pinfold Avenue, Norton, came to the UK from Iraq.

Mr Anderson, mitigating for Ibrahim, said: "He's the sole breadwinner and places a lot of worth on this licence. He has a large family of six children, his wife has dementia. He still works as a taxi driver and is of previous good character."

Magistrates handed Ibrahim a £710 court bill.

https://bit.ly/2IyMrVU

 Taxi fares in Glasgow  are set to rise again – just months after a 10 per cent increase was introduced .

Licensing chiefs have proposed the change following a review by Dr James Cooper, of Taxi Research Partners, who backed a 1.71 per cent hike.

It means the flag fall – or fixed start fee – would increase by 10p, from £3.30 to £3.40.

This would be the maximum fare for a journey not exceeding 932 yards or two minutes 59 seconds, down from the current distance and time of 939 yards and three minutes.

Passengers are currently charged 20p for every additional 167 yards or 34 seconds. Dr Cooper has recommended the time remains the same but the distance is dropped to 164 yards.

A 10.32 per cent rise came into effect on February 25 this year, with the initial fee jumping from £3 to £3.30.

“While this review was commenced shortly after the coming into effect of the previous increase to the taxi fare scales, it was necessary to do so in line with the committee’s commitment to undertaking annual reviews at the end of February each year,” a report to Glasgow City Council’s licensing chiefs revealed.

Glasgow Taxis and Unite the Union Glasgow Cab Section both suggested the flag fall should remain the same.

However, Dr Cooper said the increase was justified as costs have gone up. His report revealed, in the period of review between August 2018 and February 2019, there had been a rise in the maintenance costs for taxi vehicles, radio dues and driver earnings.

“This is a maximum fare. Companies can reduce and discount their tariff,” he added.

The expert has also recommended a bottom up review of the taxi tariff as “the fundamentals of taxi operation have changed rapidly over recent years and market changes have impacted on the costs and revenue experienced by taxis operating in the city”.

February’s increase came amid falling passenger numbers, with use of the city’s taxi ranks halving since 2006. It was implemented due to the rising cost of vehicle purchase and maintenance.


Dr Cooper’s report states: “It is concluded that the costs of production for taxi trips in Glasgow have increased in the period from 2018 to 2019.

“The change in operating costs experienced by the taxi industry has increased by 1.71 per cent.

“We would therefore recommend that an increase is applied to the tariff to reflect this change in costs.

“We do caution, however, that any increase be made being aware of the impacts of large changes on the wider use of taxis, and the potential for that increase to result in a loss of trade from the traditional taxi to other types of vehicle for hire.”

The licensing committee has instructed the Council’s Director of Governance and Solicitor to the Council, Carole Forrest, to give notice of the intention to bring in the increase.

She will report back to the committee any representations received in relation to the notice.

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-taxi-fares-increase-again-16463184
-------------------------------------

 GLASGOW

Uber ride-sharing rival Ola refused licence to operate in Glasgow

Glasgow's Licensing and Regulatory Committee have refused a booking office licence application from Ola UK Private Hire Ltd.

Confirming the outcome via their Facebook page, Unite the Union Glasgow Cab Section, said: 'Objections from Unite Cab Section, GTL and GGPHA were noted and considered. Ola will now either have to wait 12 months to reapply or appeal to the Sheriff Court.'

Src=TaxiPoint  
-----------------------------------

 LEEDS

A fire engine attending a call to Leeds General Infirmary struggled to get into the car park - because of an unattended taxi.

The moment fire fighters had to squeeze through at a snail's pace was caught on camera by a woman stood outside the hospital's A&E department.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/footage-shows-moment-fire-fighters-struggle-to-get-through-hospital-car-park-due-to-unattended-parked-taxi-1-9833669
---------------------------------------

 

Reading Borough Council have warned taxi drivers that they will be issued with penalty tickets if caught engine idling at taxi ranks ‘where relevant signage is in place’.

Union representatives were warned that licensing officers would be stepping up their enforcement it will be stepping up its enforcement at a licensing applications committee meeting on Tuesday, June 11, according to a report.

Up until now, taxi licensing enforcement officers have only been able to issue tickets if drivers refuse to turn off their engines when warned but now tickets will be issued if caught with an idling engine.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment and Transport, said to taxi union representatives at the meeting: “I am now saying to council officers that where we are able to we should be serving penalty tickets to drivers that are idling unnecessarily.

“There is no excuse. Could you please say to members that we will be stepping up our enforcement.

“The days of sending warning letters are over.”
The council agreed to inform and communicate with taxi drivers on the harm caused by idling back in 2017 but more action is now needed to deal with a minority of drivers who still sit with their engine running. 

Cllr Page added: “Since then officers have repeated this same message to the trade organisations and many drivers appear to have taken the message on board. However, a minority have not.

“Taxi licencing enforcement officers routinely ask taxi drivers to turn off their engines when they visit the ranks.

“The drafting of the legislation requires that officers provide a warning to drivers and if they comply a fixed penalty notice cannot be issued.

“It is now time that further and more formal action is taken with drivers and the trade to try to change the culture around idling.

“Officers are now actively issuing fixed penalty notices for unnecessary idling at a rank where relevant signage is in place.”

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/17714417.reading-borough-councils-tony-page-issues-engine-idling-warning-for-taxis/
-------------------------------------

SUNDERLAND (UPDATE)

Taxi drivers coming in and out of Sunderland could face increased checks under new plans backed by council bosses.

This week, Sunderland City Council's cabinet agreed to sign-up to a North East taxi licensing agreement.

The plan, involving the regions 11 other councils, aims to keep passengers safe and boost regulation of the trade.

It follows councils expressing concerns about increasing numbers of taxis licensed by other councils operating in their areas.

These 'out of area' vehicles are not subject to the regulations of the council they're working in.
Under the new agreement, private hire and hackney carriages licensed in other council areas would face inspections when entering Sunderland.
Coun Amy Wilson, the council's cabinet member for Environment and Transport, outlined the plans to cabinet on Tuesday (June 18).

And she said the agreement would allow "effective regulation of the taxi trade both in Sunderland and throughout the North East".
She added: "The primary aim of the licensing of taxi drivers, vehicles and operators is to protect the public and promote safety.

"Recent national concerns relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children has led to the publication of a proposed new statutory guidance for licensing authorities in this respect.

"As a consequence, a review is currently being undertaken in respect of licensing to consider any emerging new responsibilities and potential improvements which will seek to enhance the safety of taxi users and protection of the public."

The meeting heard the first part of the review would authorise the need for "cross-border enforcement officers."

As of May 2019, there were 347 Hackney Carriages in Sunderland, 443 Private Hire vehicles and 1,165 drivers.

Council licensing bosses are set to work Sunderland drivers raise awareness of the changes - as they may face inspections while working in other local authority areas.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/taxi-drivers-sunderland-could-face-16453564
--------------------------------

MANCHESTER

A taxi driver could have found himself on trial for rape had a tracker device not been fitted to his vehicle, a jury heard.

Laura Hood, 27, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, claimed cab driver Haroon Yousaf raped her after a night out in January 2017.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the tracker "proved her account of being raped is simply untrue".

Ms Hood denies perverting the course of justice.

The court heard Mr Yousaf was arrested and kept in custody for 20 hours the day after the allegation was made against him.

Prosecutor Geoff Whelan said it was "extremely fortunate" his taxi was fitted with the device as it recorded the exact route the taxi had taken and at no point did it turn off into a side street, as claimed by the defendant.

Shortly after Ms Hood was dropped off near her home on 8 January 2017 the defendant told her mother and stepfather she had been raped and they called the police, the court heard.

Officers were told the driver had travelled the "wrong way", pulled over and raped her in the back of the cab, jurors heard.

No physical evidence

Mr Whelan said Ms Hood got into Mr Yousaf's taxi outside a bar in Deansgate Locks.

She insisted he drop her off at the end of her street and paid the fare telling Mr Yousaf to keep the £4 change, said Mr Whelan.

No forensic evidence showed any physical contact between Mr Yousaf and the defendant, jurors heard.

Ms Hood had described her attacker as in his late 50s and with no facial hair but Mr Younas is aged 29 with a full beard, the court heard.

Mr Whelan said it was a "clearest possible example" of perverting the course of justice.

He said she now accepts Mr Yousaf did not rape her, but she believed she was raped in the taxi and therefore she denied the charge.

The trial continues.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-48693800
----------------------------------------

LONDON

The second-hand cab market has all but collapsed. A quick glance through the cabs for sale column in any of the trade papers will confirm that.

The number of older cabs decommissioned is now thought to exceed over 2,000 with another 1,500 working their way through the system. It’s a perfect storm because many of the cabs taken off the road belonged to the fleets and many of the mushers who decommissioned their own cabs are now looking to rent cabs that don’t exist!

Even though the uncertainty surrounding diesel isn’t going away, and the risk of a total diesel ban on cabs could happen at some time in the future, many drivers are prepared to take the gamble and buy a Euro VI TX4.

As a result, these cabs are like gold dust. Most of the dealers have waiting lists of drivers wanting to buy them and we all know what over demand does, it forces prices up. It appears that taxi drivers who looked at the market back in January saw low mileage Euro VI cabs being traded from as low as £22k, delayed their delicensing, thinking there would be no problem getting one. Six months later they snapped up the £10,000 for their old cab believing they would add £15k to the pot and get a much newer cab, hence the long waiting lists. Many of these drivers now don’t have cabs and have joined the queues to rent cabs from garages that don’t have them either.

Drivers with Euro V cabs are stuck in limbo land. The uncertainty over age limits has meant the valuations on these cabs are now all calculated on the number of plates left on the cab, based on the worst-case scenario of a 12-year age limit. The double whammy is that they have little value outside of London where the majority of licensing authorities require a minimum Euro VI standard for new licences. Even in those areas where Euro V is still an option there is no demand because the market is flooded with lots of very cheap delicensed cabs. Until we get a decision on the age limit this won’t change.

The new cab market is very different. May saw 189 new TXes join the ranks, again, another new record month for cab sales. It brings the total number of ZEC cabs licensed to nearly 1,800. This could mean we will see the psychological barrier of 2,000 cabs, or 10% of the fleet, broken very soon. If the Nissan launches this summer and sales growth continue at this rate, we could have 3,000 clean cabs on the road by the end of this year.
 


https://bit.ly/2WPHrA2

MANCHESTER LICENSED UBERK

A UBERK driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following a crash in Old Trafford.

Police were called to the crash, involving an Uber vehicle, in Kings Road yesterday.

Officers said no one was injured, although the driver of the Uber, a white Toyota Avensis, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

Two vehicles sustained damage in the crash.

Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

https://bit.ly/2WPQOob

The Department for Transport (DfT) is holding two taxi and PHV reform workshops, in June/July 2019.

As you are aware, in September 2018, the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing report recommended that Government change the law to stop taxis and PHVs carrying out journeys entirely outside their licensed area (often called “cross-border” or “out-of-area” work). In the Government’s response to the report, we committed to look at how this change might work in detail, with a view to legislating.

These workshops aim to give local authorities, taxi and PHV operators and other interested stakeholders an opportunity to share their views on how that proposed change to the taxi and PHV system could work. Issues that will be looked at include:

  * increasing the size of the geographic area in which journeys must start and/or finish (e.g. mutual recognition and adjoining areas),
    possible flexibilities (e.g. multiple licences),

*    exemptions for vehicle types or services; and enforcement of the out-of-area requirements.

The workshops will also provide an update on early thinking about the other commitments the Government made in the response to the Task and Finish Group’s report, including the introduction of national minimum standards and national enforcement powers.

Who should attend a workshop?

These workshops will be of interest to:
    Local authorities, in particular those responsible for taxi and PHV licensing

    Portfolio holders with responsibility for taxi and PHV licensing

    Taxi intermediaries and PHV operators – including small operators

    Organisations representing passengers and the taxi and PHV industry

    Other stakeholders and anyone interested in, or affected by, taxi and PHV reform

Why attend?

DfT is keen to hear a broad range of views on the way that reform of taxi and PHV “out-of-area” travel could work in practice.

This is an opportunity for the LPHCA to its views with the Department.

Workshop Details

Wednesday 26 June 2019

The Rubens at the Palace

39 Buckingham Palace Road

London

SW1W 0PS

Wednesday 3 July

           Details to be confirmed

Please advise via email by Friday 21 June 2019 if you are able to attend either of these workshops.

DfT look forward to seeing you, if you require any further information please contact Paul Elliott

Yours sincerely,

Catriona Henderson.

    
      
Catriona Henderson
Head of Buses and Taxis, Buses and Taxis Division

2/12-14, Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR
     
Follow us on twitter @transportgovuk

 Jim Cunningham Labour, Coventry South

The Minister has previously indicated that the Government will bring forward legislation to improve the safety and regulation of the taxi trade when time allows. Can the Minister tell us when exactly that legislation will be brought before the House, or are we faced with another legislative crash—for want of a better term?

        (Citation: HC Deb, 13 June 2019, c820)

Nusrat Ghani Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)

I am just as eager as the hon. Gentleman to legislate in this area, considering the amount of work done by the task and finish group. Our commitment is to make sure that standards are raised, security is dealt with and that national enforcement officers ensure, regardless of where people are in the country, that they are getting into a cab with a driver who has had a standardised background check and has met the threshold for safety and security.

 I cannot give any more detail right now, but I am pleased that so many Members are as eager as I am to legislate on this issue.
-------------------------------------












 DERBY

A yob who smashed a taxi window while on a suspended sentence for another crime has been spared jail.
Stephen Newton had been arguing with a woman in the vehicle after being picked up near Walkabout in Derby city centre.

Derby Crown Court heard how no payment was going to be made and the driver drove them to the taxi base in Stockbrook Street.
When they arrived he broke one of the windows of the vehicle before climbing out.

During the hearing it was revealed he was on a suspended sentence which was imposed in July last year.
Drinking
Judge Jonathan Bennett, who presided over the case, chose not to activate Newton's suspended sentence and handed him unpaid work.


He said: "You are 28 years of age and have something of a record.
"You came before St Alban's Crown Court for a serious matter of dangerous driving, drink driving and racially aggravated behaviour.
"The common theme is drink. The magistrates court sent you to this court as you were subject to the crown court suspended sentence.
"I have to decided whether to activate the suspended sentence, but I don't think it would be proportionate.
"I don't seek to minimise it (the criminal damage)."

https://bit.ly/2WLOI8Y 
-----------------------------------------

SWINDON

Wiltshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was assaulted in Swindon.

The incident took place on the morning of 15 June, on Dawlish Road in the town.

A taxi driver had picked up two men and a woman from the Suji nightclub in Old Town shortly before 5.30am and was directed to take them to the Park North area.

As the vehicle drove along Dawlish Road, the three suspects became abusive to the driver and he ended the fare.

Following an argument, one of the men stabbed the driver before all three ran off in the direction of Radstock Avenue.

The taxi driver was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol but was released the same day. He suffered minor slash wound injuries.

DS Adrian Bray said: "This was an unprovoked attack on someone who was simply doing his job. Luckily, the injuries he sustained were not serious - it could have been very different due to the violent nature of the attack.

"I would like to reassure our communities that we believe we know who the offenders are and our enquiries to locate them are continuing.

"I would appeal for anyone who was in the Dawlish Road area of Swindon yesterday morning who may have seen this incident or anyone who might have any further information, to contact us immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 now and quote crime reference number 54190057409.

https://bit.ly/2WOgahe
------------------------------------

 BIRMINGHAM

A man was trapped and had to be cut free from a car after a severe crash outside a city McDonald's.

Two fire crews, paramedics and police officers were called to the smash near to St Andrew's, home of Birmingham City Football Club .

The taxi driver suffered a neck injury with firefighters using cutting equipment to extricate him safely out of the vehicle.

It happened on Coventry Road, close to the junction of Mount Pleasant outside McDonald's in Small Heath

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We were called at 3.57pm to reports of a two-car road traffic collision on Coventry Road.

"One of the drivers involved complained of neck pain and couldn't move. Two crews from Highgate attended and used hydraulic cutters.

"The man complaining of pain was trapped as a result of his injuries. It's thought he'll be OK. Crews are still on-scene [4.30pm]."

https://bit.ly/2KmsHXI 

Taxi drivers could face more inspections coming in and out of Sunderland under new rules aimed at keeping their passengers safer.

Sunderland City Council is looking to sign-up to a taxi licensing agreement with the North East region's 11 other councils, which could mean the drivers could face more inspections once they leave the city.

Taxis not from Sunderland would also face inspections if they enter the city.

The new agreement is being introduced to help bring about more effective regulation of the trade across the North East region.

It follows councils expressing concerns about the increasing numbers of taxis licensed by other councils often operating in their areas.

These 'out of area' vehicles are not subject to the regulations of the council in the area they are working in.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet is looking at the regional agreement when it meets next Tuesday, June 18.

It is part of a wider on-going national review of taxi licensing arrangements.

Councillor Amy Wilson, the council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "As the report to cabinet sets out, there have been recent and national concerns relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.

"These are draft statutory guidance and haven’t yet been adopted by government but there is a will to adopt these as local policies

"This council, as are others up and down the country, is reviewing its taxi licensing functions to further reflect these guidelines and new powers.

“Our review is considering mandatory safeguarding training for drivers and further checks for if a driver is a 'fit and proper person'.

"This North East Memorandum of Understanding is very much a first stage of this licensing review process.

“It is all about ensuring more effective regulation of the taxi trade and protecting the public."

As of end of May 2019, there are 347 Hackney Carriages in Sunderland, 443 Private Hire vehicles and 1,165 drivers.

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/people/sunderland-taxi-drivers-to-face-more-checks-after-concerns-about-out-of-area-drivers-1-9814793
---------------------------------------------

 ACCESS FOR ALL

We launched our Access All Areas campaign back in 2015 after hearing from countless guide dog owners about being refused access to public places because of their dog. This is almost always illegal. Under the Equality Act, guide dog and other assistance dog owners have the right to enter most services, premises and vehicles with their dog.

Our research shows that the most frequent places that guide dog owners are refused access to are minicabs, taxis, restaurants and shops. This is why we’ve been calling for the government to introduce Disability Equality Training for minicab and taxi drivers, to make them aware of the law and how better to support people with a visual impairment. We’ve been making similar calls in countries across the United Kingdom.


    75% of assistance dog owners we surveyed have been refused access to a restaurant, shop or taxi.
 
    In a one-year period, 42% of assistance dog owners were refused entry to a taxi or minicab because of their dog.

    33% of assistance dog owners surveyed were refused entry to a minicab or taxi because the driver said they had an allergy, but didn't hold a valid medical exemption certificate as legally required.
    20% of assistance dog owners surveyed said that a minicab or taxi arrived but the driver drove off without even speaking to them.


    In 2016 hundreds of campaigners across the UK took to the streets to collect over 8,000 signatures for the Access All Areas petition as part of our Action for Access Day in May.
    In June 2016 over 100 guide dog owners attended a lobby of Parliament in Westminster to speak to MPs about how access refusals from shops, restaurants and taxis affect them on a daily basis. We handed the first Access All Areas petition, with 50,523 signatures, to the Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson MP. Andrew Gwynne MP announced that he would introduce a Bill to make it a condition of taxi and minicab drivers' licences that they take part in disability equality training. Unfortunately, the Bill ran out of time to be debated.

    In 2017 A second petition was launched, calling on the Government to ensure that all taxi and minicab drivers take part in disability equality training to understand the rights and needs of disabled people. Another successful day of action in April saw campaigners collect over 10, 000 signatures for the petition! We also took the campaign to party conferences where politicians tried their luck at a shuffleboard.

    In April 2018 we handed over 46,000 signatures to Government, along with a box filled with stress cards to remind the Minister that 42% of guide dog owners face discrimination.

    We are continuing to work with licensing authorities to ensure that they adopt our disability equality training and that taxi and minicab drivers understand the rights and needs of disabled people.

The next big moment in our Access All Areas campaign will be holding a mass lobby in Parliament on 19 June. We aim to connect as many guide dog owners as possible with their MPs to help build support for this vital campaign.

https://bit.ly/2WG7ZUo
------------------------------------

 DERBY

A yob who smashed a taxi window while on a suspended sentence for another crime has been spared jail.
Stephen Newton had been arguing with a woman in the vehicle after being picked up near Walkabout in Derby city centre.

Derby Crown Court heard how no payment was going to be made and the driver drove them to the taxi base in Stockbrook Street.
When they arrived he broke one of the windows of the vehicle before climbing out.

During the hearing it was revealed he was on a suspended sentence which was imposed in July last year.

Judge Jonathan Bennett, who presided over the case, chose not to activate Newton's suspended sentence and handed him unpaid work.

He said: "You are 28 years of age and have something of a record.
"You came before St Alban's Crown Court for a serious matter of dangerous driving, drink driving and racially aggravated behaviour.
"The common theme is drink. The magistrates court sent you to this court as you were subject to the crown court suspended sentence.
"I have to decided whether to activate the suspended sentence, but I don't think it would be proportionate.

"I don't seek to minimise it (the criminal damage)."

Christopher Jeyes, prosecuting, outlined the case to the court, stating it took place between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2018.

He said: "The complainant was on duty. This defendant and a female passenger were picked up outside Walkabout.
"They started arguing with each other."
The court heard how no payment was going to be made to the taxi driver and there were "discussions".

The driver drove to the taxi base where the police could be called.
Mr Jeyes said: "Once they arrived at that place the defendant started banging on the glass.
 
"The driver noticed the window was smashed. The defendant climbed out.
"The female passenger got out the other side. Both started swearing at him."

Police arrived on the scene and spoke to the defendant who told them "I'll just pay for it".
During his interview he gave no comment and gave officers a prepared statement.
The court stated he had several previous convictions with the most serious resulting in him being handed a nine-month sentence suspended for two years.

What did he get?
Judge Bennett handed Newton 40 hours of unpaid work for the criminal damage.
He then handed him another 40 hours for the suspended sentence breach, taking his total to 80 hours.

He stated that the suspended sentence would remain in place and that he must also pay £350 in compensation.

What was said in mitigation?
The court heard how Newton, of Village Street, Derby, was working well with probation and had completed his previous unpaid work, a skills programme and an alcohol treatment requirement.

Harold Ewing, mitigating said Newton felt "trapped" in there, but that wasn't in any way to excuse the incident in any way.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/derby-yob-smashes-taxi-window-2976547