Taxi Driver Online

Safety fears as taxi drivers take drugs to keep them awake

CONCERNS have been raised over passenger safety in some city taxis – because drivers are chewing a drug widely used in Somalia and the Middle East.

Khat is a green-leafed chewable shrub and is a stimulant which can induce feelings of euphoria. It is banned in many countries, including the US, because it contains chemicals similar to amphetamines.

Although khat is legal in Britain, a spokesperson for drug helpline Talk To Frank says the plant contains two main psychoactive chemicals classified as Class C drugs.

Butetown PCSO Neil Crowley said: “Khat usage is a big problem within the Somali community in Cardiff. “I’m aware some taxi drivers use the drug to stay awake so they can work longer hours or through the night, and we take the matter very seriously.”

Several Cardiff cabbies, who have asked not to be named, have made allegations against drivers of Somali origin who, they claim, have been working while under the influence of the substance.

One driver said: “I know many Somalis who chew khat while they’re at work. “It’s incredibly dangerous as the drug works as a stimulant, making drivers take risks on the road they wouldn’t otherwise take.”

Cardiff Hackney Carriage Association chairman Mathab Khan said: “Concerns have been raised by other drivers about this and I would urge drivers to refrain from chewing it.”

Janet Roberts, Drug and Alcohol (DAN) 24/7 Helpline manager, said: “If you took khat and then drove a car, your perceptions and responses to the driving conditions and other road users could be diminished.”

But Abdi Adan, director of the Somali Progressive Association, said: “Chewing khat is ingrained in Somali culture and so long as it is used in moderation I see no problem at all. Some taxi drivers say it helps to keep them alert, and I don’t believe it has an adverse impact on their driving.”

It is estimated around seven tonnes of khat is imported into the UK each week from Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya.

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IDFIMH

oh well, thats ok then

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Perhaps they should do some proper research into it to see exactly what happens when you chew the stuff

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Is it worse than the red bull and pro plus that others use?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

God only knows, but, nobody should need to use anything cos they shouldn't need to work so many feckin hours should they

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Khat has been around for a decade or three in Brum; there's a huge Somali no-go area at the beginning of the Stratford Road.

'Khat makes a come-back!' Sounds like an episode of Eastenders!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

That's an awful lot of khat usage in the UK per week!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Shudup................that is just the quota for Cardiff

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

They'd better not bring it round here they'd make a fortune.

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

Is this the stuff that a council was complaing about on TV a couple of weeks ago? The stuff makes them spit a lot and it stains the paths and walls in a red gunge that is difficult to remove.

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Grandad,

But how would the councils fund all those minority interest groups and community car schemes if there weren't vast numbers of cabbies and PH working long hours to make it pay ?

Rastafrians cant have the Ganga, why do we allow these migrants to sully our community with thier [edited by admin]?

ban em all i say, get the khat classified as a class B drug asap

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

How do you test for it ? khat-scan ?

Class C drug? Using it while driving? Sounds illegal to me,maybe the powers that be are AFRAID to take action in case they are accused of racism and will get taken to the human rights courts

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GuildfordPH

It's not just illegal drugs (gets all legal again !). The offence is 'driving while impaired through drink or drugs'. So could apply even if you'd taken loads of cough medicine and, perhaps, red bull.