Taxi Driver Online

Maybe shouldn't be saying this, but I'll stick my neck out and say this is two boy racers, er, racing, and the 'taxi' just got in the way

But when you see the video, amazing that no one killed

The real mystery for me, though, is how this video ended up online. I mean, the female behind the camera was obviously just there to film the spectacle, so you'd think she'd avoid the perception that she's vaguely complicit in the whole thing.

Unless, of course, she shared the footage privately not intending that it would go public. But that hasn't gone well either

But the two 'cruisers' certainly won't be behind the wheel again for some time. Legally, at least


The horrific moment a car slams into the back of a taxi at high speed

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... k-25280573

A woman can be heard screaming a moment before the crash


Image: UGC/Wales Online

A car was captured on camera crashing into the back of an unsuspecting taxi on a bypass road near Newport at high speed. Shot by a spectator standing on the central reservation of the A4810 in Llanwern at around 10.30pm on Sunday, it shows the two vehicles make impact with a sickening thud.

A woman can be heard to scream seconds before the collision which sends both cars - a white Volkswagen Polo and a Skoda - careening off the road. A third vehicle - a black Vauxhall Corsa, travelling close behind - also gets caught up in the incident.

The footage - which was uploaded to social media - also includes the aftermath of the crash, with onlookers searching through the twisted wreckage for casualties. Commenting on the clip one person described the cars as having been "absolutely totalled."

No-one was killed in the smash, although two people were taken to hospital. Officers called to the scene said "no life threatening or life changing injuries were reported."

A spokesperson from Gwent Police said, "We received a report of a road traffic collision on the A4810 at around 10.30pm on Sunday, October 16. Officers attended, along with personnel from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The collision involved three cars. No life threatening or life changing injuries were reported and enquires are ongoing."

A statement from the Welsh Ambulance Service added: "We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Queens Way in Newport. We sent one rapid response vehicle and three emergency ambulances to the scene, where we were supported by the Wales Air Ambulance.

"One person was transported by road to University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, while another person was transported by road to the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran for further treatment." Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident, can call 101 or direct message Gwent Police on social media, quoting log reference 2200351316.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously by ringing 0800 555 111.

A couple of the online comments. Sounds about right




Quick loading version of the video available here - doesn't show the aftermath, but shows the collision as well as the longer video:

https://twitter.com/RugbyMF1/status/1582312953008705537

But at least Newport police launched their new tuk-tuks a couple of days previously. That's obviously helped


Gwent Police launch tuk-tuk patrols in Newport

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/ ... s-newport/


Image: Gwent Police/South Wales Argus

AN UNUSUAL sight is set to greet people in Newport and Abergavenny - with police out on patrol in tuk-tuks in a bid to protect "safe spaces" for residents.

The vehicles are more commonly used as taxis in many Asian cities, but now there'll be officers and "ambassadors" from other organisations to keep the streets of Newport and Abergavenny safe.

The four-vehicle fleet will patrol parks, pavements, paths, and other public spaces.

A senior Gwent Police officer said the scheme had been launched after "overwhelmingly positive" feedback from the public.

The force said the tuk-tuks would "provide crime prevention advice, report incidents to and seek help from if you are feeling unsafe".

Chief Inspector Damian Sowrey said: "They were on show at our Behind the Badge day, giving local residents the opportunity to see them up close and to hear more about how they will be used.

"The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with parents telling officers that they would feel safer knowing that there was support for young people out at night, and from women who could think of an occasion when the tuk-tuk would have been a welcome sight."

The tuk-tuk scheme is being funded as part of the Home Office Safer Streets programme.

Could the police do anything else to make them look more of a laughing stock?

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IDFIMH

yes change their hi viz's to rainbow colours to please the LGBT community

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Or paint the tuk-tuk in rainbow colours, like this car in *Sussex*

Sussex Police have another car sponsored by the author Peter James.

Wouldn't surprise me if he didn't fund the rainbow car as well.

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IDFIMH

Well that's interesting

Apparently the first commercial sponsorship of a police car in the UK. Or at least it was when launched 14 years ago. Never heard of anything similar, so maybe it hasn't become a thing?

Maybe the pubs and clubs could sponsor them up here, and they could then be advertising these places while driving round town, leaving the policing function to the doormen at said pubs and clubs

I'd do it myself if I had the cash - good way to ensure you've got them on speed dial in case you ever need them

Anyway, interesting Guardian piece here about the Brighton car, which is dated 2008


Crime writer inspires Britain's first sponsored police car

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jun/10/53

Brighton & Hove police receive a five-door saloon as a 'thank you' from bestselling local writer Peter James

One of the most blatant cases of life imitating art is roaring on to the streets of Brighton this Thursday, as the first ever sponsored police car rolls into action to promote local crime novelist Peter James.

The unlikely plan arose out of the bestselling writer's close relationship with Brighton & Hove police. James is known for his painstaking concern for accurate details, and spends about one in 10 days shadowing local officers. Speaking this afternoon, while traveling in a police car, James explained, "I was talking to my publisher, and he said 'the police have been so helpful; maybe we should give something back?'

"I'm a bit of a petrolhead, so I suggested the car idea. I never thought they'd go for it."

City Commander Chief Superintendent Paul Pearce expressed great thanks for the Hyundai Getz five-door saloon as "an essential tool which gives our neighbourhood teams greater flexibility to provide an even better quality of policing in the local community.

"The car will not be used to respond to emergency calls but is solely for use in the local community, to provide visibility and reassurance, and to provide a quick way for officers to get to their local neighbourhood areas."

No police spokesman was available for further comment, but James himself was phlegmatic about any ethical issues the sponsorship could raise. "I don't know what the 'old sweats' on the force will make of it, but there was a great deal of discussion about how to approach it. The original plan was to include the title of my latest book, Dead Man's Footsteps, in the branding. But it was decided that not might look too good if the car drew up at a murder scene."

On the wider issue of whether private sponsorship of the police is appropriate, James said: "The government is simply not providing sufficient funding for the police. If it's putting more police on the streets via sponsorship, then it's justified - although I don't think they'll be accepting sponsorship from massage parlours."

His only worry, James said, was that he might be arrested by his branded car. "For speeding probably. That wouldn't look very good."

Any resident of the Brighton area, incidentally, who passes a scene of crime tent where the officers appear to be grazing on canapés and champagne on Thursday evening, should not be alarmed. The car's press launch party will be themed around a scene of crime, complete with tape, tent and waiters in sterile white "scene of crime officer" suits.

I've met Peter a number of times and he is a nice fella.

He has excellent relations with the Sussex Police, who help him out big time when he is researching his books.

He always auctions for charity names to be put in his books, and raises significant money from people who just love themselves.

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IDFIMH

This thread got sidetracked a bit, but like the ped fatality the other day, it was pretty obvious at the time what had gone on, but it takes a year or two to confirm the details


Newport teens caused serious injury to taxi driver in crash

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/ ... ver-crash/

Two young men from Newport have been handed suspended sentences after crashing into a taxi driver whilst driving two times the speed limit.

Adam Ali, 21, of Lloyd Street, Liswerry and Connor Llewellyn-Sinclair, 22 of Caerleon Road, St Julians, were both handed two-year prison sentences, suspended for two years for causing serious injury through dangerous driving.

On October 16, 2022, both men ‘slammed’ into the back of a taxi driver who was obeying the 50 mile per hour speed limit, whilst racing each other at over ‘100 miles per hour’ along the public dual carriageway by the Llanwern Steelworks, the A4810 at 10:30pm.

Cardiff Crown Court heard on July 29, that on the evening of the incident it was wet and raining, and there were spectators lining the roads to watch them race.

The prosecution told the court: “Witness McKenzie Griffiths saw their driving before the collision. He looked down to save the video he had taken on his phone when he heard a massive explosion.

“Mr Griffiths ran over to the car as a first aider and both Adam Ali and Connor Llewellyn-Sinclair got themselves out of the rubble whilst laughing.

“The victim, who was driving to Magor services to buy himself a coffee while on shift, felt no immediate pain, but after was subject to immense pain in his chest, lungs, legs, hips and arms.

“Not only did he suffer memory loss, but also three broken ribs and swollen soft tissue.”

The court was shown harrowing footage of the collision, where the taxi driver was driving lawfully, at the correct speed for the occasion.

Upon sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: “Looking at the photo of the victim’s car, it is remarkable that he, or any of the people present were not killed.”

“The poor victim was travelling perfectly lawfully – he had even slowed down due to feeling confused at the number of people stood in the road.

“Connor Llewellyn-Sinclair slammed into the back of the taxi driver and Adam Ali collided into the two cars thereafter.

“The victim suffered spinal injuries and spent four days in the USW Hospital, in Heath, Cardiff.

“Today he suffers with PTSD and has lost his job due to no longer being able to drive. He can not do the things he used to do before, such as be an active grandad.

“You have changed somebody’s life for the worst.”

Adam Ali has been convicted since for driving while disqualified, ultimately ignoring Newport Magistrate’s Court orders.

Judge Lucy Crowther considered in her sentencing that both men are “genuinely sorry” for what happened that evening.

The court heard that since the incident, Adam Ali has become a father and bought his first home. Also, that Connor Llewellyn-Sinclair is excelling in his new job role.

Both men were sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, disqualified from driving and subjected to 250 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation sessions and £340 fines.

Judge Crowther said: “Let me make this plain to you, I am giving you a chance today. I do not want to see you again.”

As a reminder, quick loading video of what happened here:

https://x.com/RugbyMF1/status/1582312953008705537

This video in the news article also shows the wreckage:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... k-25280573

Couple of photos here, and slightly longer, quicker loading video below the photos.

(Take it the photo of the perp on the left is from his younger days...)






https://x.com/gwentpolice/status/1818285958946533504

Looking at those cars it's a wonder anyone survived.

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IDFIMH