Taxi Driver Online

I assume this is just adopting the IoL's guidelines as council policy, although that's not specifically stated in piece.

Tougher sanctions imposed on law-breaking taxi drivers in St Albans

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/tougher- ... -1-5887698

Taxi drivers in St Albans who use mobile phones behind the wheel are to be banned from work for up to five years as part of a council crackdown.

As of January 31, any driver convicted of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving will not be granted a new or renewed taxi licence by St Albans district council until five years have passed, which is four years longer than the council’s previous sanction for a single mobile phone offence.

The new regulations were introduced as part of a package of more stringent sanctions that were agreed by St Albans Licensing and Regulatory Committee on Tuesday, January 29.

Drivers who have seven points on their license for ‘minor’ offences, including speeding, will also not be granted a taxi licence until at least five years have passed.

Motorists with convictions for major traffic or vehicle offences, including offences resulting in death or injury, damage to property or motor insurance offences, will not be granted a licence for at least seven years following completion of any conviction.

Seven years will also have to elapse for a licence to be granted after a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Under the previous policy, drivers who had been disqualified for totting up 12 points or more would have been refused a licence until they had a conviction-free period of one year.

Council officers say the new policy will help ensure the safety of passengers, including children and vulnerable adults.

The report to the committee said: “The majority of applicants and licensees are professional, hard-working people and this updated policy will assist in setting the standard for entry to the trade in our district to ensure that professionalism is protected and preserved.”

A small number of drivers objected to the changes, suggesting the sanction imposed on a driver with seven points on their licence was too severe and would affect their livelihoods.
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By coincidence last week the DfT issued stats showing that cab drivers most likely to use mobile phones while driving.

Taxi drivers three times more likely to use mobile phones at the wheel than regular drivers

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/taxi-drivers- ... 46374.html

Taxi drivers are three times more likely to use mobile phones at the wheel than regular drivers, according to an official study.

A statistical release from the Department for Transport, published on February 7, found that in 2017 the highest proportion of drivers using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving was taxi or private hire vehicle drivers, at 3.3% – 2.1% holding a phone to their ear, and 1.2% holding it in their hand.

That contrasted with 1% of car drivers found to be using a mobile phone.

According to the data, 2.1% of van drivers and 1% of bus, coach or minibus drivers use a mobile phone while driving.

The lowest proportion of drivers who use mobile whilst driving was goods vehicle or lorry drivers, at 0.6%, the figures showed.

The release said the higher rate for taxi drivers was mostly driven by a higher rate in Scotland, which was based on a relatively small sample, and said caution should be used when interpreting the figures.

The study suggests that the number of drivers using their phone at the wheel has fallen – possibly thanks to tougher penalties.

In March 2017, fines for using a mobile phone whilst driving increased to £200 and six penalty points, with a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 if driving a lorry or bus) if the case goes to court.

According to the survey, the proportion of motorists caught using their mobile while driving fell to 0.6% in England and Wales – almost two-thirds down on the 1.6% from the previous study in 2014.

Younger drivers were also more likely to commit the offence, particularly at rush hour, the figures suggest.

When it comes to using their mobile at ‘stationary sites’ like junctions and traffic lights, 4% of 17 to 29-year-olds were caught, compared to 2.1% of all motorists.

Motorists were also most likely to use their phone at the wheel in the evening rush hour, the research found.

Completely disproportionate.

It's seven years for drink/drug driving, so how the two can be nearly as serious as one another is pure madness.

Only a numpty bunch of 'holier than thou' civil servants could come up with this.

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IDFIMH

Another Council making their own laws up. No wonder we've got St Albans based drivers applying for a licence in our manor.

Totally out of proportion and something our LA asked about doing in a consultation, as a holder of a HGV licence as well as PHV I face punishment on both licences even if caught using one in a private car, on the hgv it is a minimum of 4 weeks suspension for 1st offence and goes up to a 12 week suspension if there is more than one such offence, which is a much more reasonable punishment, that goes for both HGV and PSV.

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now a licensed hackney driver

Thanks for that - you must have been reading my mind - I was about to ask what happens to truckers and bus drivers caught using a mobile phone?

This is another one out of the IoL recommendations.

So St Albans say 4 years, but the government say in their recent consultation,

Where an applicant has a conviction for using a held‐hand mobile telephone or a hand‐held device whilst driving, a licence will not be granted until at least 5 years have elapsed since the conviction or completion of any sentence or driving ban imposed, whichever is the later.

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IDFIMH

Doesn't St Albans say five years? Only mention of four years is that the St Albans proposal is four years longer than the current policy, ie presumably it's one year now.

And here was me thinking it was only me and Edders who commented before reading the pieces properly

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IDFIMH