Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers caught breaking the law in Birmingham

https://planetradio.co.uk/free/local/ne ... irmingham/

People in Birmingham are being warned not to get into private hire taxis without booking first.


Image: Free Radio News

Exclusive figures seen by Free Radio show 50 drivers were caught illegally plying for hire in the city last year.

In rare cases, it can put customers at increased risk of sexual assault because there's no trace of the journey, making it difficult for police to track down offenders.

It also invalidates the driver's insurance, making it more difficult for passengers to get a payout from an insurance company if they're involved in a crash.

Our reporter Laura Chiverton went along to a licensing op in Birmingham, led by PC Dave Humpherson.

Undercover officers pose as customers to catch private hire drivers who are breaking the law.

One driver who was caught by the team told us:

"I know I broke the law and I have to face up to it, but with what Uber do in the city we have to provide food for our kids and pay their rent, so we have to do something.

"For example now I'm renting this car for £200 pounds a week and on top of that I have to pay £100 for petrol. I'm working, do you believe or not, I work 14, 15, 13 hour days seven days a week."

When asked by our reporter whether he would take the risk and pick up customers again he said:

"Really not. Some people advise me not to do that but this isn't the first time or the last time, this is life's risk."

He and two other drivers who were caught plying for hire that night are now facing fines of between £400 and £2,000 and could lose their licences.

Last year 16 Hackney carriage and private hire drivers were revoked and a further 19 were suspended.

PC Dave Humpherson said: "Companies will not employ drivers if the work isn't there for them so there is sufficient amount of work for these drivers to legally get worked passed to them by an operator."

He added: "Now these drivers are working long hours throughout the week, my personal feeling is they're working sufficient enough money.

"They do not need to go out and do illegal activity to make more money. I personally feel it's just greed."

Traffic enforcement officers are also on these operations to carry out stop checks on all taxis - black cabs and private hires.

Last year 21 vehicles were suspended by DVSA because they weren't roadworthy.

since when did big city PH firms limit there drivers to work available ?

How about NEVER

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

Stick to being a copper as you have no f***ing idea how drivers interact with operators and vice versa.

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IDFIMH

Are there any traces of hackney vehicle journey's picked up from the street?
The old insurance boIIocks again. We all know that the passenger is insured, it is the driver and vehicle that aren't covered.

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Grandad,

The driver and anyone he hits will be covered, it's own damage that isn't covered. The insurers have a scheme that covers almost any eventuality, and the EU rules on insurance ensure every motor vehicle is covered on and off road.

How would any enforcement officer know exactly what an individual's insurance policy would cover unless they have seen the wording of the policy? As I've said before on here, when I was in the business my policy covered "the carriage of passengers for hire and reward" providing the driver had the appropriate licence.

Yes,but there is about £30 per policy(everyone's) that goes to fund that scheme I am led to believe.

How can the driver be covered ? Yes any third party will be covered, as well as any passengers who may be insured (if they were unaware that the vehicle wasn’t booked for them) but I doubt any insurance company would pay the driver out if he was found to be working outside of his license conditions.
It’s the same with a ‘drunk’ driver.

If I am insured fully comp in my own car and I cause an accident in which I get injured, Can I claim against myself for the injuries?

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Grandad,

At first I would have said yes - fully comp covers everything even if it's your fault.
But thinking again wouldn't it encourage a load of 'claims' where people deliberately drive slowly into a wall and then put in claims for whiplash etc ?

Exactly. and this is why I don't think the driver would be paid out if he gets injured himself and this is why only the passengers are covered when being driven by a driver who is not insured because he has broken the terms of his insurance.

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Grandad,

I've had a think..
You're driving down the motorway at 70 and have a blowout - car rolls and you break a leg. Not your fault and you're fully comp, insurance pays for injuries.
You cause an accident (not intentionally) and break your leg. Your fault - will the insurance still pay for injury ? What if you deliberately caused the accident ?

Does it.check your insurance to see if you are.

Your insurance covers any claim against you.

Therefore you can't claim against yourself if your actions cause you an injury.

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IDFIMH

Does the insurance pay out for your treatment or does it compensate you for your injuries? A chap I knew had a bad accident with his son in the car. The sone ended up in a wheelchair and the insurance paid out for everything. However his dad who was driving didn't get a penny for his own injuries.

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Grandad,