Taxi Driver Online

100 taxi drivers arrested for drink or drug driving in less than a year

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... k-16034125

Here's the breakdown of how many were from your area

A 100th taxi driver has been arrested for drink or drug driving on Merseyside in less than a year.

Police announced yesterday on social media that the "unfortunate milestone" had been reached, tweeting out an image of a vehicle stopped at the side of the road.

The force's tweet, sent out from the Roads Policing Unit account, said: "Unfortunate milestone today! This is the 100th licensed driver arrested for drink (8) or Drug (92) drive since May!"

The number includes both Hackney carriage drivers and private hire vehicles.

The post said a total of 48 of those had been Liverpool drivers, 33 from Sefton , 14 from Knowsley and five from other regions.

It added: "We will carry on working hard to support the majority of legal drivers in the trade."


Image: Twitter/Merseyside Roads Policing Unit

The news follows a scheme over Christmas named Operation Nemesis that saw roadside checks carried out across Merseyside for the fourth consecutive festive season.

That operation saw 19 arrested throughout the month, leading Inspector Keith Kellett to warn: "Drug driving is a serious offence and leaves our communities vulnerable.

"All motorists have a duty of care to themselves, those they are travelling with and other road users which is why it is particularly important that taxi drivers and private hire companies consider the risks they may be putting themselves and others in if they’re found to be driving whilst using drugs."

What's the law on drug driving?

The law states that it's illegal to drive if either the person is unfit to do so because they're on legal or illegal drugs, or they have certain levels of illegal drugs in the blood - even if they haven’t affected the person's driving.

The police can stop drivers and make them do a ‘field impairment assessment’ if they think the driver is on drugs. That means a series of tests, like asking the driver to walk in a straight line.

They can also use roadside drug kits to screen for cannabis and cocaine.

that's 100 too many

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

I would rather that they were caught than the problem ignored.

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Grandad,

Brought this up at the last liaison meeting Council not interested nor was the P/H companies

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

100 out of 5/6000

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

100 caught out of 5/6000,question is how many have not been caught?

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

if it was 100 out of 5 million it would still be too many

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

An important topic, but these pieces are getting a bit repetitive now

Vast scale of drinking and drug driving taxi drivers in Merseyside revealed

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... g-16267928

The force has also thanked 'the vast majority of licensed drivers who get [fares] home safely'

A Sefton driver became the 114th cabbie or private hire operator to be arrested for drink or drug driving in Merseyside in the past year.

The figures - which show more than three arrests per day on average - have prompted Merseyside Police to reissue a warning to cabbies and private hire drivers that taking drugs and driving could result in losing their job, being imprisoned and even them or someone else dying.

According to a tweet by the Road Policing Unit, prior to the most recent arrest 11 licenses drivers had been arrested for drink driving while a massive (102) licensed drivers had been arrested for drug driving.

Fifty four drivers had been stopped by Liverpool licensing, 39 by Sefton licensing, 15 in Knowsley and five were listed as "other".

The force has also thanked 'the vast majority of licensed drivers who get [fares] home safely'.


Image: Twitter/Merseyside Roads Policing Unit

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “Drink and drug driving is a serious offence and leaves our communities vulnerable.

“All motorists have a duty of care to themselves, those they are travelling with and other road users which is why it is particularly important that taxi drivers and private hire companies consider the risks they may be putting themselves and others in if they’re found to be driving whilst using drink or drugs.

“While these drivers represent a small minority, the potential danger they present, not just to themselves but to other road users and pedestrians cannot be ignored and should be taken extremely seriously. That’s why as a force we regularly undertake roadside operations to stop those who take to the roads while impaired through drink or drugs.

“We’d like to remind everyone to think for a minute about the effects of a drink and drug driving conviction will have on you and your family, the shame and ruin that it can bring. Do not think that you won’t get caught. Our officers conduct roadside tests, morning afternoon and evening and we arrest countless drivers every month throughout the year. Don’t chance it – if you’re driving, it’s better to have none for the road.”


Image: Twitter/Merseyside Roads Policing Unit

It is councils who make the decisions on whether to issue or revoke licences for drivers, and Sefton Council says it takes such offences very seriously.

Documents on the authorities website state: "A serious view is taken of any motoring conviction for driving, attempting to drive, being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to supply a specimen.

"A person who has been disqualified from driving as a result of such an offence is likely to be refused a licence for a period of at least four years after the restoration of their DVLA driving licence.

"More than one ‘live’ conviction of this type would generally prevent a person from being licensed for five years after the restoration of their DVLA driving licence."