BRADFORD

MOTORISTS have been warned to always obey warning lights after a Bradford taxi driver became trapped on a swing bridge over a waterway.

The "embarrassed" driver was left helpless as he had to sit in his vehicle while the bridge took him spinning out onto the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Local resident Russell Ingle joined bemused onlookers on the towpath and took a phone picture of the white Bradford Hackney Carriage stranded on the Morton Bridge at Crossflatts near Bingley.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing - he must have just got under one barrier heading towards Crossflatts and then was trapped because the one in front of him was already down," Mr Ingle said.


"To be honest, what bothers me is the safety aspect because those bridges are all carefully counterbalanced and having a one and a half tonne vehicle on it could really upset the balance.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/11442317.Taxi_trapped_on_canal_bridge_as_it_swings_out_over_the_waterway/?ref=rss
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Eire.

TAXI industry bosses have warned that sex offenders and convicted criminals could still be driving cabs as dozens of operators were busted by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

A total of 65 unlicensed taxi drivers have been identified by the authority in the past three months, according to a report.

Between April and July, the authority received 161 consumer complaints against taxi drivers.

A total of 106 of these were from passengers who complained about fares.

Industry experts said the figures would be alarming for anyone who uses a taxi, particularly women travelling on their own.

National Private Hire and Taxi Association representative Christy Humphries said the high rate of complaints should be a cause for concern. He said that all 65 of the drivers who were unlicensed should be "named and shamed" by the authority.

"If you don't have a licence, you don't have insurance," he said. "If the licensed driver isn't driving, then who is?

"It appears as if convicted criminals and sex offenders could be free to drive taxis, given the alarming level of non-compliance."

Section 64 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 sets out the categories of complaint that can be dealt with by the authority.

These include complaints relating to the condition, roadworthiness and cleanliness of the vehicle as well as the conduct, behaviour and identification of the driver.

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