Taxi driver suspended after not securing wheelchair in cabA taxi driver has been suspended for two months after putting the life of a disabled woman at risk when he failed to strap her wheelchair into the back of his cab.
John Scott Kennedy, of Fell View in Wigton, was told he narrowly escaped being stripped of his licence and has been warned it will be revoked if he is in trouble again.
Instead Mr Kennedy was told his hackney carriage licence would be suspended for two months. He must also re-take disability awareness training.
He admitted making a “massive mistake” and apologised when he appeared before Carlisle City Council’s regulatory panel yesterday.
It comes after a complaint from Carlisle woman Leah Stanton, who was picked up along with two carers from Grey Healthcare by Mr Kennedy on December 18 after a shopping trip at the Asda superstore at Kingstown.
Miss Stanton, who lives near the city centre, suffers a rare genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It causes her to suffer many painful dislocations. She also suffers injuries easily and her skin is stretchy.
The panel, at the civic centre, heard how Miss Stanton’s electric wheelchair had got stuck as it made its way up a ramp into Mr Kennedy’s taxi.
She banged her head, causing her to be sick and needing a cold compress once back at home.
Once inside the cab, Mr Kennedy – a taxi driver since 2009 – allowed Miss Stanton’s wheelchair to remain in a dangerous ‘sideways’ position.
He also failed to strap the chair in properly to stop it from moving during the journey.
Miss Stanton told councillors: “If the taxi had been in an accident or we had to break sharply it would have seriously injured me.”
Mr Kennedy said: “I hold my hands up but at the time I did not feel it was necessary. It was a massive mistake, I am very regretful of that. I sincerely apologise to everyone, the panel, the licensing staff and to the lady in question.”
It is not illegal not to strap in a wheelchair but it is contrary to vehicle manufacturers’ and disability awareness guidelines.
Mr Kennedy was said to have “failed in his professional duty” by not carrying his passenger safely.
Taxi drivers receive training from the city council on how to deal with disabled passengers following a high-profile case in Birmingham in which a disabled teenager had died as a result of being transported sideways in a vehicle and not being correctly secured.
Councillor John Bell, chairman of Carlisle City Council’s regulatory panel, told Kennedy: “What you did was entirely against council policy and entirely against the disability and duty of care guidelines.
“Despite all that we are taking into account all you said to the officers and suspending your licence for two months.
“It is very dangerous to transport a wheelchair like that. It put at risk not only your passenger but also yourself and her carers.
“You had no valid reason for not securing the wheelchair and there is no doubt that if you are before this panel again you will have your licence revoked.
“You came very near today. It was a majority of 7-4. Take on board what we have said and act in a more responsible way.”
source:
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.1188065
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FAQ
Everything is verbal, so in the event of a claim, it will no doubt be..........."I don't remember that being said - that will be the order of the day".