Taxi Driver Online

Asssumed this was another satnav slave, but it appears his GPS had gone down so he was relying on his, er, navigation skills


Lost Keighley taxi driver went wrong way down York A64

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/194612 ... -york-a64/

A TAXI driver drove the wrong way along the A64 near York at night towards a police car at a combined speed of 140 mph, York Crown Court heard.

Mohammed Shakil, 54, was doing 40mph as he searched the verge of the dual carriageway for a fare - and went straight past the police car that was doing 100 mph as it responded to a different incident.

Another police car further on the westbound carriageway brought him to a halt.

"This was a deliberate incident and the defendant had an utter disregard for the safety of others," said prosecution barrister Kelly Sherif.

Shakil's barrister Taryn Turner said: "He didn't realise he was on a dual carriageway. This was a terrible mistake he has made for which he has paid and will pay a very high price."

Shakil, of Devonshire Street, Keighley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

He had no previous convictions and the taxi firm for whom he had worked for 13 years sent a reference to the court on his behalf.

He was given a 12-month community order with 150 hours' unpaid work and banned from driving for 12 months. He must also take an extended driving test. He is no longer a taxi driver.

Ms Sherif said police saw Shakil's lights coming towards them at 11.20pm on November 15 on the westbound carriageway near the A1237 Copmanthorpe junction.

Although they put on their blue lights, Shakil didn't stop.

After his arrest he told them he had been under pressure to pick up his employer's client.

Mrs Turner said Shakil didn't know the stretch of the A64 near York.

When he saw the first police car it was on his right as he would expect on a single carriageway. The second police car was in the same lane as him.

He had been sent to pick up an elderly couple in a layby close to some services, but wasn't sure where they were and his GPS had gone down.

"It is very much out of character for this man," she said of the dangerous driving. "He had a good driving record."

The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, said the case was very different from dangerous driving cases involving police pursuits.

Shakil was a family man with a good work ethic who wouldn't offend again, said the judge.

That's kind of the point I was making in the other recent thread involving a similar incident.

But at least this report contextualises things a bit, unlike the last one

And broadly similar punishments, although the ban and community order periods are shorter, while the unpaid work period is longer.

If ever a job came up to pick up someone on the verge of a dual carriageway I would end up unplugging and throwing my data unit at the operator.

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IDFIMH

Frankly amazed this case, given the facts in the article, ended up at the Crown Court.

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IDFIMH