Taxi Driver Online

A taxi driver’s brush with the law

A TAXI firm owner has been told he can’t have two passengers on the front seat of his minibus … in case the driver brushes one of them with the gear stick.

Brian Turnbull, owner of Turnbull’s Taxis, in Haltwhistle, said the decision makes out his drivers, who have all undergone rigorous criminal record checks, to be perverts.

Mr Turnbull, who runs a fleet of five vehicles, is angry that another company has been granted permission to carry two front seat passengers in its minibus. And he is planning to defy the decision, lodge an appeal and has not ruled out a legal challenge.

Mr Turnbull, who lives at Westlands, Haltwhistle, said: “I paid £11,000 for that minibus and Tynedale Council is not going to allow me not to have eight passengers in it.

“As far as I am concerned, it will be carrying eight people. If they want to revoke my licence or take my livelihood away I will take them to court.” The dispute began when Mr Turnbull applied to the district council to allow his new Ford Transit to carry eight people.

Bu the council only granted a licence for seven passengers. The reason for refusing an eighth passenger was that the Transit’s handbrake and gear stick are on the driver’s left, increasing the chances of the driver touching a passenger’s leg.

At the same licensing hearing on Monday, another company was allowed to carry eight in a Fiat Ducato, including two in the front. This was because the handbrake in that vehicle is on the driver’s right and the gear stick is on the dashboard.

Mr Turnbull has a school contract to carry six children. He is worried he may lose the contract if he is asked to carry two more pupils. If the council refuses to relent, Mr Turnbull said he will run the vehicle as a private service vehicle (PSV), with Tynedale Council losing out on the licence fee.

Head of public protection and licensing at Tynedale Philip Soderquest dismissed the suggestion that the restriction had been imposed because drivers can not be trusted. He acknowledged it was the council’s responsibility to protect the public in terms of vehicle safety and comfort.

But he added: “We also want to ensure that drivers are protected. It is not that drivers are not trusted. We think we are also giving some protection to drivers who could face false allegations.”

He insisted Mr Turnbull had been aware of the restrictions on front seat passengers when he bought the Transit and said the council’s policy was shared by other authorities.

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IDFIMH

My handbrake is on the left and i'm allowed two passengers on the front seat although it is difficult not to brush against them if you get the two largest passengers opting to sit in the front and that is usually the case !

If other councils adopt this rule it could make life awkward for most operators of 8 seaters

Can I suggest Mr Turnbull, contact The Ford motor company & the dealer who sold him the Transit mini bus I am sure they will assist him in his fight.
As if this is upheld it will effect them both..

this is also the case in north tyneside !!


North Tyneside also will not allow the like of people carriers on such as the ford galaxys unless you take out the middle seat of the middle row !

as their policy is you must have two un obstructed means of egress in event of a accident

but they dont understand if you have a PCO approved cab with a wheel chair passenger straped and fasten in they is not two UN OBSTRUCTED means of eggress !

they also do not accept such cars as new ford mondeo titianums or any model that has the tinted glass which has become every model

and we have to try and run a business round these numbtys in the council its shocking