Taxi Driver Online

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk
New policies since Uber’s London licence rejection in September 2017 shouldn’t be considered in the forthcoming appeal says London Assemby member Caroline Pidgeon.

The chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee went on to say she expects “a full examination of whether Uber were a fit and proper operator” in the court appeal starting next week as Uber look to win back its London operators licence.

Caroline Pidgeon told TaxiPoint: “What I expect from the appeal hearing is quite simple – a full examination of whether Uber were a fit and proper operator to have their licence renewed at the time that TfL made their decision last September.

“TfL decision was based on extensive evidence about the record of Uber and it is vital that this information is fully examined.“

“What I do not believe is relevant is statements made and new policies adopted by Uber since last September as the only relevant issue of the appeal hearing is the facts and evidence that existed at the time of the initial decision.”

Recently, Ms Pidgeon has also warned Mayor Sadiq Khan of the dangers posed by Uber drivers using mobile phones to accept jobs while at the wheel. She highlighted the fact that the Uber app effectively forces drivers to interact with their phone while driving.

The Assembly Member urged the mayor to speak to the Met Police about issuing similar guidance in London.

The London Assembly transport leader told LTDA’s TAXI: “It is against the law to use your phone whilst driving, yet many apps expect drivers to interact whilst driving, which puts all road users at risk.”

thought we'd done this one already

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

Never mind.

My sources suggest a deal is being done as we speak re the appeal.

Apparently neither side wants their staff in court under oath.

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IDFIMH

No It is not illegal to use your phone whilst driving.....It is only illegal to use handheld phone whilst driving or to read and or respond to Text or Email type messages, remotely connected phones such as via bluetooth are legal to use providing you do not touch the handheld to answer or dial out with.

I think Ms Pidgeon should do her homework before she opens her mouth.

Careless Driving might be an issue in a few cases but that is only if a careless act of driving incident occurs but not using the phone in itself.

Such people have a bee in their Bonnet, same with the press...some would have All Mobiles blocked by the Car itself, I can see my passengers just loving that when they are on the move and making business calls etc.

Yes, by all means Ban Handhelds but using a Bluetooth is no different to talking to a passenger in the amount of difficulty it presents.

So is that a reasonable assessment of how the legal process works here, or just a bit of crude sloganeering like Ms Pidgeon's statement on mobile phone use?

As with most official bodies they tend to act and create their own self serving doctrines based on nothing more than their own beliefs , agendas and perceptions rather than on facts and realities themselves.

Why let the facts spoil a good bit of fiction.

Is it not fact that you must not read any message whether on hand held or other device whilst driving.

you cannot operate the phone or switch the radio on/off look or read a map operate a sat nav drink or eat or do makeup whilst actually driving

you can of course park up take the keys out of the ignition and do all those things as long as drinking does not involve alcohol

so if reading a text involves holding and looking at the phone then no if you are driving but you can of course use in car tech to read the message to you

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

I don't have to read any message as my Earpiece converts it to speech, I don't even have to touch the Earpiece as it does so automatically.

According to the Evening Standard's journalist at the hearing:

"The chief magistrate will decide whether Uber is "fit and proper" to hold an operator licence in the capital now, rather than whether TfL's decision was correct in September."

So assuming the Standard's journo is correct Caroline Pidgeon was misstating the legal position

Reading reports from what went on in court today I'm not surprised Uber didn't want their staff to give evidence to the court.

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IDFIMH

Recall that Caroline Pidgeon said: