WOLVERHAMPTON

A ‘mystery shopper’ exercise to check the performance of taxis drivers in a city when required to assist people with disabilities has proved a success and is to be extended.

 
The scheme consisted of a series of journeys made in both Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles by wheelchair users, people with mobility difficulties and blind or partially-sighted passengers with guide dogs in Wolverhampton.

 

Those taking part were also asked to complete a questionnaire relating to issues of safety, accessibility, the driver’s attitude, comparison to other transport facilities and anything they thought was particularly good or bad.
 
The council’s commercial regulation manager, Chris Howell, told members of the city’s non-statutory licensing committee that as a result of the feedback obtained, he felt the scheme could be continued and extended.
 
“We engaged with a number of volunteers from local disability groups, council employees and a member of West Midlands Police to carry out the mystery shopper scheme,” he said.

“A total of 19 journeys were undertaken in December last year and in February by volunteers using both Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. 

“These were people who were either wheelchair users, had difficulties with mobility due to hip replacements and osteoarthritis, or were blind or partially-sighted and accompanied by a guide dog.”

A report to the committee revealed that 13 journeys were undertaken in private hire vehicles and six in Hackney carriages. 

Two journeys were taken by a volunteer in a wheelchair. Seven journeys were taken by a volunteer that was blind or partially sighted and accompanied by a guide dog. Two journeys were taken by volunteers who were blind/partially-sighted and also had difficulties with their mobility.

 

“During two of the journeys undertaken in Hackney carriages by wheelchair volunteers, the drivers failed to secure the wheelchair users correctly,” said Mr Howell.

“As a result both drivers attended a review hearing and a wheelchair training and assessment course. I’d like to propose that we continue the exercise and extend the remit.” 

Each mystery shopper was required to hire a taxi from a rank in the city centre to a particular destination and then book a private hire for a return journey. 

If physically possible, the mystery shopper was asked to travel alone. All visits and questionnaires were conducted anonymously to ensure accurate and efficient results could then be collated.

 

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2020/05/28/taxi-hire-mystery-shopper-scheme-is-extended/

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Uber is installing in-car partitions in 400 cars across Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham as part of a pilot scheme to prevent the spread of coronavirus between drivers and passengers.

 
The ride-hailing giant is also distributing hygiene kits to drivers and couriers as part of new safety measures.

A pilot scheme, developed in partnership with the AA, will see 400 cars in the North East installed with in-car partitions.

The firm says this will "help build a better understanding of how people can travel from A to B as safely as possible".

The screens will be installed by the AA, who will also sanitise every car as part of the installation process.

Uber is also teaming up with Unilever to provide hygiene kits for drivers and couriers. These kits will be distributed in the coming weeks and will include antibacterial spray and hand gel, among other items.

Over 2.2million masks will be distributed to drivers and couriers, in addition to the 1.1million that have already been sent and 95,000 cleaning sprays.

Jamie Heywood, Regional General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Uber, said: “The safety of the riders and drivers who use the Uber app is our number one priority. 

"For weeks we’ve been urging people to stay home and make essential trips only. As people start to think about moving again, we hope our pilot in the North East of England will help bring about a greater understanding of how to get people from A to B as safely as possible.”

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/400-uber-taxis-trial-car-18246802 

MANCHESTER

A drug driver who miraculously emerged unharmed after flipping his car following a 135mph police chase has been jailed.

Mohammed Qureshi, 29, who had hopes of becoming a taxi driver and previously worked as an Uber Eats driver, has been locked up for 10 months.

His lawyer said Qureshi 'panicked' after initially being stopped by police, as he had taken cocaine, had the drug on him and was not insured to drive his car.

Manchester Crown Court was told that some of his friends had encouraged him to take cocaine as he was suffering a 'low mood' following the breakdown of his relationship.

Police in an unmarked car spotted Qureshi, from Levenshulme, driving a black Seat car in Cheetham Hill, at about 10.30pm on October 8 last year.

They became suspicious after finding that the vehicle was insured to a woman, his mother.

They pulled him over and told him to get out.

But Qureshi sped off, reaching speeds of about 70mph in built up areas, where the speed limit was 30mph.

He overtook other cars and went through red lights.

Later he joined the M60 at junction 19 heading towards Bury.

During the chase on the motorway, officers noted that they were travelling at 135mph and were 'not making much progress', prosecutor Gavin Howie said.

Qureshi then joined the M66, again heading towards Bury.

At one point Qureshi turned his lights off on the motorway, where there were no street lights on. He later turned them on again.

Police decided it was no longer safe to continue the pursuit.

Further down the carriageway, near junction three at Pilsworth, Qureshi lost control and crashed the car, which flipped onto its roof.

The vehicle was said to be 'completely written off'.

Qureshi tried running away, prosecutors said, but after being wrestled to the ground he told officers he was sorry.

The pursuit lasted for about 15 minutes, covering about five miles.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/aspiring-taxi-driver-led-police-18319117

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CALIFORNIA

Uber says 158,000 drivers will lose work if they're reclassified as employees

Uber has been crunching data, and it's come up with an internal analysis on what would happen if it reclassified its California drivers as employees. According to the company, passengers could expect to see prices go up 20% to 120%, and tens of thousands of drivers might be out of work.

Of Uber's 209,000 drivers in the state, the company said, 76% could lose their jobs on the ride-hailing platform. Rural areas would be hit hardest by these cutbacks.

   

"Shifting to an employment model would force us to limit the number of people who could drive on Uber in order to manage costs that are fixed per employee," the company said.

Most economists agree the system would change if drivers were to become employees. But some say numbers like these need more context. For example, rural areas already have minimal coverage by Uber and some drivers only work a few hours a week. 

If drivers were employees, the platform would run more efficiently, said Michael Reich, co-chair of the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the University of California at Berkeley.

"Some drivers who work more than 40 hours per week will reduce their hours," Reich said. "Many who drive less than 40 hours per week are likely to increase their hours."

Uber's new analysis comes as the debate over gig worker classification in California heats up. Currently, most gig economy companies classify their workers as independent contractors, rather than employees.

 That means the companies aren't responsible for benefits like health insurance, sick leave and minimum wage. California passed a law last fall mandating that gig workers be classified as employees. The law, AB 5, went into effect on Jan. 1.

https://www.cnet.com/news/uber-says-158000-drivers-will-lose-work-if-theyre-reclassified-as-employees/

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WAKEFIELD

A "gun fanatic" who shot dead a taxi driver at a railway station has died in prison.

Colin Cheetham murdered father-of-three Stuart Ludlam at Cromford station in Derbyshire in September 2009.

The 71-year-old did not know his victim and appeared to have had no motive other wanting to shoot a "complete stranger", his trial heard.

A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed Cheetham had died at HMP Wakefield on 1 May.

In 2010 the killer, from Ripley, Derbyshire, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-52799080

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A group of taxi drivers from Barrow who have been made unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic have gotten together to create their own co-operative taxi firm.

Brian White, 47, who has twenty year’s taxi driving experience, launched Coastal Cars last week (May 22) with nine other taxi drivers.

The group had all worked for A1 Taxis based on Rawlinson Street.

Brian said: “Sadly the boss decided to shut down so there were no health risks to any of us. We’ve been off work for weeks and it’s meant forty lads out of work.

“The time has allowed for some of us to set up as we want however, it’s almost like going back to factory settings and we’re doing it our own way.

 We’re our own bosses. Instead of the likes of radio rental we just ask for contribution costs towards the bills, operator wage etc. There’s no skimming the top.”

The firm is taking strict safety measures regarding customer health and limiting passengers to the back seat. It’s also ensuring constant cleaning of all cars and is encouraging contactless payments where possible.

In order to get the business of the ground during hard times, the community has rallied around. Michael Hoad, who set up the Corner Shop in Barrow, offered pay for flyers and distribute them when he got wind of the idea.

 Street Cars on Dalkeith Street has offered the new firm some space to rent to help with the taxi operator licence and one local has offered to help as an operator for free whilst the business gets going.

Brian said: “I’d just like to thank everyone who’s helped us. I think everyone knows we’re all good lads who are nice and polite and our customers have always known that too.

https://www.lancs.live/news/local-news/new-barrow-taxi-firm-set-18321397

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High Wycome

The death of a sixth Uber driver linked to coronavirus has prompted urgent calls for minicabs to be properly equipped with PPE.

Father-of-four Zahid Pervaiz, 65, is the latest to die after picking up a passenger he believed was infected by the killer disease.

Mr Pervaiz, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, died in intensive care last Friday and had saved all his life for a trip to Mecca which he was due to take next month.

His death came a day after 27-year-old Zeeshan Ahmed, whose death is also being linked to the virus.

Mert Dogus, whose 49-year-old father Haci Ali Dogus died at the end of March, said: 'I 100 per cent believe drivers need PPE or they need help from the Government. 

'If they can’t have PPE, then they should stop driving. There is this problem with not enough PPE being available for NHS workers, but cab drivers need them too.'

Mr Dogus, from Hackney, worked six days a week. Mert said his father was convinced he contracted the virus after regularly picking up passengers from Heathrow. 

‘In their cars they can’t be two meters away and they are in a confined space,' he added.

‘But if they get ill then they have to be treated by the NHS workers anyway. The PPE might prevent all this... It is a huge dilemma.’

Yaseen Asleem, head of the United Private Hire Drivers association whose organisation represents drivers in eight cities, said PPE would save lives.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8248543/Sixth-Uber-driver-death-linked-coronavirus-prompt-urgent-calls-minicabs-issued-PPE.html

NOTTINGHAM

More than 120 taxi drivers are refusing to buy new low emission cabs after making as little as £15 a day during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nottingham City Council wants around 400 hackney cabs to be upgraded to low emission vehicles to improve air quality.

Taxi drivers said they have been told the vehicles must be in place by June 30.

Drivers will have to take out loans to buy the new fleet, which can cost between £32,000 to £75,000 per vehicle.

But taxi driver associations have blasted the decision for the council to push ahead with the plans when no money is being made from the profession to pay for them.

Chander Sood, 61, of Wollaton, has been a hackney taxi driver for 26 years in Nottingham.
He is also the former secretary of the Nottingham City Hackney Carriage Owners and Drivers Association, which represents cab drivers in the city.

He said out of the 411 fleet there was more than 120 drivers which have refused to buy the new vehicles during the pandemic.

He told Nottinghamshire Live: "Where is the money going to come from if you are not making any money? How are we going to pay the installments? It is a high investment."

He said: "Most drivers are taking £15 to £20 a day under lockdown. They can't afford it. We need help from the council."

The council plan is have more than 400 new Hackney cabs in Nottingham, which will either be electric or the cleanest diesels.

The scheme aims to deter the most-polluting vehicles from entering the city in a bid to curb air pollution, and bring it down to legal levels as soon as 2020.

Nottingham City Council placed orders for a small number of the vehicles to lease back to drivers, as well as investing £700,000 of Government funding into electric charging points around the city.

Taxi driver Wasim Amin, chairman of Nottingham Licensed Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, which represents more than 300 drivers, said: "It is difficult times, not just for taxi drivers but for everyone. It is devastating.

"We do want to put these vehicles in (to the city) but how are we going to make it pay? It is common sense. How is it going to work for the person who has taken that burden on?

"We are all up for these changes and the air quality on taxis but it is not feasible because of finances. The council need to reconsider."

Portfolio Holder for Growth and the City Centre, Cllr Sam Webster, said: “We understand it’s a difficult time for taxi drivers. There has been a lead-in time of more than two years to respond to new rules requiring only Euro 6 diesel or ultra-low emission vehicles to be eligible for a licence to operate in Nottingham.

“130 drivers have already made the change, but unfortunately a minority still haven’t done so. We have taken a flexible approach and introduced some leeway by allowing owners approaching the end of their licence to retain their plates for six months, instead of the usual one month, to decide whether they wish to buy a compliant replacement vehicle or not.

“We are also giving six-month extensions to those drivers who can show they are in the process of buying a replacement vehicle but are unable to take delivery because of lockdown. We will continue our dialogue with the trade and keep the extension period under review."

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/taxi-drivers-refusing-buy-low-4153380

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LAKE DISTRICT

An axe and "large quantity" of cocaine were discovered after police stopped a taxi in Cumbria during the early hours of this morning.

Cumbria Roads Police today released a picture of the taxi after the swoop on the A590 dual carriageway near Newby Bridge.

Both the taxi driver and passenger were arrested following "a lengthy chat" and the weapon and drugs were seized after the dramatic Lake District swoop.

Police tweeted details of the operation at around 4am today and said the taxi had travelled from Halifax in West Yorkshire.

Confirming the arrests Cumbria Roads Police confirmed: "Taxi from Halifax stopped on the A590 dual carriageway near Newby Bridge. After a lengthy chat with the driver and passenger they were both arrested due to one breaching his restraining order and both for possession of an axe and a large quantity of cocaine."

 https://www.lancs.live/news/local-news/axe-large-quantity-cocaine-found-18292951

OXFORD

RESIDENTS at the scene of a major police incident yesterday have spoken about what they saw and heard.

Saunders Road in Cowley was blocked off by police for most of the day and one resident said a relative was shouted at by police when they stepped outside for a cigarette.

One resident reported seeing six undercover cars, two riot vans, three normal police cars and officers in balaclavas.

They said: “My kids were playing in the garden and all we heard was really loud shouting, it was like people were fighting.

“The kids ran in the house and I could see a taxi being boxed in.

“The taxi driver had come from the top of the road and police boxed him in, they had tasers and guns and were shouting for him to get down.

“They dragged him out the car and arrested him, he was quite young, maybe in his 30s – he was just smiling.

“I heard some residents asking the officers if they had found a firearm.

“Police then took the taxi after they took him.”

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18462610.taxi-boxed-in-police-major-incident-oxford/
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SINGAPORE: ComfortDelGro will install plastic shields in 400 taxis in a trial that aims to minimise contact between cabbies and passengers, reducing the spread of COVID-19, said the firm on Wednesday (May 20).

Dubbed the V-shield, it covers the driver's cabin entirely and is locally made using "an unbreakable material", said ComfortDelGro in a media release, adding that the shield also serves as added protection against "violent physical harm".

Installation of the shields has begun and the taxi operator will continue to roll them out in 50 taxis every week.

It said the shield will be extended to more taxis if the trial is successful.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-precaution-taxi-comfort-plastic-shield-coronavirus-12751394

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Ola To Lay Off 1,400 Staff, CEO Says Pandemic Hit Revenues


https://www.ndtv.com/business/ola-cabs-layoff-news-ola-to-lay-off-1-400-employees-ceo-says-covid-19-lockdown-hits-revenue-2232047

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LONDON

Uber has hired the AA to install screens in cabs as part of a social distancing trial

Commercial and private drivers of passenger vehicles have been among the groups worst affected by the disease due to the difficulties of social distancing in a confined space.

This has led to minicab companies taking safety measures such in response to the UK’s government’s easing of some coronavirus restrictions and people return to work. Taxi companies are distributing free personal protective equipment (PPE) to drivers and installing screens inside vehicles.

London’s largest private hire car operator, Addison Lee, is fitting perspex partition screens between drivers and passengers across its 4,000 vehicles next week. The screens need to be flame-retardant and shatter-proof.

Liam Griffin, chief executive of Addison Lee, said: “We know there is significant demand from drivers, passengers, businesses and the general public for more to be done to make transport cleaner and safer as we go back to work, including calls for the introduction of partition screens into private hire vehicles. That's why we have taken the decision to begin rolling out the installation of safety screens between drivers and passenger seats.”
The company is using an electrostatic antimicrobial cleanse of vehicles and aims to facilitate social distancing by encouraging passengers to use the rear seats of its seven-seater vehicles.
https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/65543/how-to-protect-cab-drivers-from-covid-19-/

Birmingham Taxi Cop was Copped.

A motorbike cop has been dismissed from the police for gross misconduct after he sent an explicit photo to a woman while on duty.

Award-winning PC Dave Humpherson, from West Midlands Police, met "Miss A" at a petrol station just hours after matching on dating app Bumble.

The 41-year-old - voted police officer of the year in 2019 - was in uniform and on duty when he got into her car at a Shell garage on the A491 in Bell End, near Clent, on September 2, 2019.

The purpose of the meeting was to "explore the possibility of having a sexual relationship", a virtual hearing at Lloyd House in Birmingham was told.

PC Humpherson, who served 22 years with the force and worked to stop taxi drivers operating illegally, later sent her an explicit photo on WhatsApp the same day, the hearing was told.

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson, who presided over the misconduct hearing, said the actions were “reckless and unwise.”

He found the officer had breached standards for discreditable conduct, duties and responsibilities. It amounted to gross misconduct and the officer was dismissed without notice.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/police-officer-year-sacked-sending-18272619

LEICESTER

PEOPLE are being asked for their views on whether the number of Hackney carriages normally operating in Leicester meets passengers’ demands.

Leicester City Council licenses over 300 hackney cabs to work in the city, and is carrying out a consultation with customers to gauge their past experience of getting a taxi.

Passengers will be asked a number of questions about their use of taxis, including how easily they were able to flag one down and whether they were able to get one where and when required.

The passenger survey is being carried out online at Leicester City Council’s consultation page, and runs until June 11.

Work began just before the coronavirus lockdown to survey taxi numbers, the number of ranks and the numbers of passengers queueing.

Originally the passenger survey was due to be carried out in person, but the lockdown means it is now being done online, so the results can be matched to the traffic data.

Passengers will be asked about their experience of using taxis before the lockdown, although they will also be asked if the coronavirus crisis will affect their decision on whether or not to use taxis in future.

Leicester deputy city mayor responsible for regulatory services, Cllr Piara Singh Clair, said: “It is important to know whether the number of Hackney cabs licensed to operate in Leicester reflects the needs of customers, who want to be sure they can get a taxi whenever they need to.

“The market has changed over recent years, so this survey will help give us an up to date understanding of people’s experiences of using taxis locally.

“Unfortunately the work that we’d started was then interrupted by the lockdown, so we are carrying out this passenger consultation online, to ensure it is as close in time as possible to the original traffic surveys we’ve already done.”

https://news.leicester.gov.uk/news-articles/2020/may/consultation-asks-passengers-about-their-taxi-use/
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LONDON

Hero cabbie Michael Hayes drives his taxi to his local hospital after a long stint ferrying passengers around London to take doctors, nurses and other key NHS staff home free when they come off shift. 

A&E nurse Micaela Giner Simon... "Michael is absolutely amazing and kind." Picture: Barts NHS Trust

The father-of-three turns up at Newham Hospital whenever he can before he drives home to East Ham, just to make sure medical staff get safely home themselves. 

“I really wanted to show my appreciation for NHS staff by offering a little bit of comfort at the end of a long and arduous shift,” he says. 

“I just wanted to do something when the true extent of the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Michael, a cab driver for 14 years, keeps himself and his passengers safe by taping all air gaps in the taxi partition and blocking the hatch, then puts on a mask when he’s speaking to passengers in the street at a safe distance. 

“I give the inside of the cab a wipe over with antibacterial spray between every job,” he points out. “I also wash my hands frequently.

https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/nhs-hospital-staff-cab-rides-home-1-6591506

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SCOTLAND

Private Hire drivers are furious after being denied permission to install screens in cars - despite their occupation having one of the highest death rates from coronavirus.

Death rates among male cabbies down south are at a rate of 36.4 per 100,000 according to the Office of National Statistics - one of the highest, and above bus drivers, chefs and shop assistants.
Many NHS workers are using cabs to get to work to avoid using public transport - and in Scotland so far six cabbies have died from the virus, according to union United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD).

Of those, three deaths have occurred in Glasgow - but the local authority has denied requests to allow taxi drivers to install protective screens, citing health and safety fears.

UPHD Glasgow chair Barry Sloan said: “In this epidemic, everyone is unsure what the best course of action is regarding safety.

"We turned to Glasgow City Council for guidance to be fobbed off and told no screens allowed.
“We stated that member drivers are catching Covid-19 and unfortunately some have passed away from the virus.

“We’ve insisted that the screen partitions must be allowed to safeguard our lives, which the council have simply brushed off, saying they are not properly tested and can impact on other safety aspects like air bags not being deployed properly.

“They also stated there is no proof screens will help reduce transmission of the virus.

“UPHD responded with evidence of test studies on protective screens and a Liverpool minicab firm which installed screens in their vehicles.
“Sadly, this has pushed many drivers into making their own makeshift screens for protection.

“I am increasingly concerned for drivers’ safety.”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “We fully understand the anxiety that anyone may feel when working in close proximity to members of the public during the Covid-19 crisis.

“At this stage, no-one can confirm whether such screens do restrict the spread of the virus and we have other concerns about the safety implications of such temporary modifications to vehicles.

“We have written to the Scottish Government to seek clarification on how licensed hire vehicles should operate during these challenging times.”

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18446328.glasgow-taxi-drivers-furious-plan-install-screens-cabs-blocked/