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Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on M4
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41499		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  StuartW [ Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on M4
Well this is interesting, and echoes of the North Wales coroner :-o

But it's funny how it's grown arms and legs. It's a very brief post on the Thames Valley Police Facebook page, and reads more like advice to 'taxi' drivers ("Just a polite request") as opposed to an instruction or statement of the law. But for reasons unknown, it's attracted 1,700 comments, and has been rehashed by the Reading Chronicle.

https://www.facebook.com/TVPRoadsPolici ... 387555433/

But that now seems to have been picked up by LBC, which has also asked TVP for a more formal comment, and that sounds a bit more North Wales coroner-esque [-(


Police warning to taxi drivers after 'drunk passengers' abandoned on motorway after being sick in Uber

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/thames-va ... runk-taxi/

Image
Image: TVP/LBC

A police force has issued a warning to taxi drivers after two drunk passengers were abandoned by the side of the motorway after being sick in the back of an Uber.

Thames Valley Police said the inebraiated two were dumped in a refuge bay on the M4 near Reading in the early hours of Sunday after a night out.

Officers were called following reports of two pedestrians on the side of the major road.

The force confirmed an investigation is underway as "it is an offence to allow the public to put themselves in the position of being a pedestrian on the motorway".

They said in a social media post: "If your intoxicated fare ends up being sick in the back of your vehicle, after a Saturday night in town, please don't dump them on the side of the dark motorway!".

Fortunately, the two weren't injured and were taken home by family members, the force added.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said “Our Roads Policing officers attended a refuge bay near Reading on the M4 motorway this morning (1/6) around 1.40am, after reports of two pedestrians on the side of the road.

“It is an offence to allow the public to put themselves in the position of being a pedestrian on the motorway.

"An investigation is ongoing.

“The pedestrians were not injured and were taken home by family members.”

Uber has been approached for comment by LBC.
Author:  StuartW [ Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on
Quote:
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said “Our Roads Policing officers attended a refuge bay near Reading on the M4 motorway this morning (1/6) around 1.40am, after reports of two pedestrians on the side of the road.

“It is an offence to allow the public to put themselves in the position of being a pedestrian on the motorway.

"An investigation is ongoing.

So it's went from a 'polite request' on Facebook to a full-blown 'ongoing investigation' :-o

And that 'offence' they've stated sounds very vague - who, precisely, is committing the offence?
Author:  Sussex [ Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on
So if a young lady demands to get out of a cab, on a motorway, does the driver agree and get done for whatever charge the police make up, or refuse and get done for kidnapping/abduction?

Or should drivers just refuse to take punters on the motorway after dark?
Author:  edders23 [ Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on
Is it legal to drop pedestrians off on a motorway Stuart ? I'm sure the signs usually say no stopping except in an emergency .
Author:  StuartW [ Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on
Well whether someone puking up is an emergency is something open to debate, I'd guess, Edders.

And, I mean, with regard to the point Sussex makes, if someone asks you to pull over for whatever reason, do you do what they ask, or maybe risk an abduction charge? And, of course, thinking back to the actual Welsh coroner case, there may be an element of threat or coercion, or even violence. Or what about the one in North Yorkshire a few weeks ago that was featured on the Channel 5 show (I think that was a dual carriageway, so probably no legal restriction on stopping, but, you know...).

Anyway, that wasn't the precise point made by Thames Valley Police. Or, if it was, it was made in a very indirect or roundabout way :-k

TVP wrote:
“It is an offence to allow the public to put themselves in the position of being a pedestrian on the motorway."
Author:  StuartW [ Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police investigation launched after vomiting pax left on
Quote:
So if a young lady demands to get out of a cab, on a motorway, does the driver agree and get done for whatever charge the police make up, or refuse and get done for kidnapping/abduction?

Good question.

And I'm sure the North Wales coroner would know the definitive answer :-o :---)
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