Taxi Driver Online

Lots of the usual December articles about only using licensed cars and taxi marshalls etc, which I've generally ignored, but this is slightly different.


Taxi driver wants everyone to do one thing this Mad Friday

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hu ... ll-3649671

Peter Nilsson wants revellers to stay safe

A veteran taxi driver has given a word of warning to Black Eye Friday revellers ahead of the booziest weekend of the year.

Pubs, bars and clubs in the city centre will be packed this weekend, but if you're looking for a taxi, 48-year-old Peter Nilsson wants to spread safety advice to people wanting to get home.

Mr Nielson, who has been a taxi driver for over 21 years and chairman of the Hull Hackney Carriage Association, is urging club and pub-goers to heed his advice to make sure they "get home safe".

He said: "We want people to go out and have a good time, but the main thing is, we want people to get home safe.

"As a trade, it's important for customers to be safe and that is our top priority, especially around the Christmas period. Stay on the taxi rank and don't start to flag one down and the reason for that is safety.

"Every taxi rank in the city centre is covered by CCTV and we can't stress this enough - wait in the rank.

"You are being monitored on camera so it's safer on the rank rather than wandering around the streets instead of trying to flag one down.

"To me, that is the main response to get out there ahead of Mad Friday, or Black Eye Friday.

"We're advising, over the next two weeks, to other taxi drivers who pick up in the city centre to ignore 'arm wavers' and get to the ranks.

"We have had reports of people waiting between 20 minutes, to half-an-hour.

"It's not fantastic, I know, but it's better than flagging it down. Passengers travelling by themselves need to make sure they stick to the rank because they are covered by the council's eyes - and they can then inform the police.

"In the city centre every taxi rank is covered by a CCTV camera and I am urging people to stick to the ranks to be safe.

"This message goes out to everyone, but especially if you're a lone female and wanting to get a taxi."

He added: "We want people to enjoy themselves, but also be safe."

'Black Eye Friday', or 'Mad Friday', is usually the last working Friday before Christmas, and the most popular night for office Christmas parties as work sites and offices shut down for a two week break until after the start of the new year.

Well done to the fella for trying to promote the trade and safety in one article.

Problem is when folks get pi**ed up normality goes out of the window.

_________________
IDFIMH

Well I'm in two minds about this kind of thing. Generally have always tried to make it to the front of any rank queue, and particularly not stopping for the head-the-balls who stand 50 yards up from the queue and expect you to stop, often jumping in front of you

However, I'm not so sure at times, and in a way I'm glad that there's rarely queues of people here these days, because that helps prevent any aggro. Of course, that was brought into focus with the recent Dundee case - although it's normally the punters arguing amongst themselves, in that case the driver was caught up in it.

And the Liverpool 'ladies' reported today is also the kind of thing that could happen at ranks because of queue-jumping, or whatever (although of course that was a PHD and a slightly different scenario).

And here's another one reported today from a smallish town in Cumbria. Driver not directly involved, but the fracas did seem to take place in the cab


Taxi row explodes as ex-soldier launches himself at rival and bites his nose...10 people had to drag him off his victim

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... r-17439257

Simon Burckett and another man got into the row over the taxi


Image: Manchester Evening News

A former Army corporal who used his teeth "as a weapon" during a row over a taxi has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Simon Burckett, 39, from Tottington, Bury, became involved in a dispute at a rank in the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven.

Carlisle Crown Court was told an argument arose as to who was entitled to a mini-cab [sounds more like an HC, what with sliding doors and a public hire, by the looks of it, but terminology not really relevant].

Paul Gearing got into the vehicle first and spoke to Burckett, who leaned in through an open door.

As words were exchanged, Mr Gearing was seen swinging punches towards Burckett, who responded in kind.

Both had been drinking and two PCs were flagged down to intervene.

"They describe seeing a group of 10 struggling to remove a male (Burckett) from the rear of a taxi cab," said prosecutor Kim Whittlestone.

"The rear left sliding door was open. The defendant was seen to be lying on top of Mr Gearing.

"He was seen to be punching Mr Gearing to the head what's described as a few times.

"He was told to leave Mr Gearing alone. They tried to remove him by grabbing his leg. At some stage during this commotion the defendant (Burckett) has bit Mr Gearing on the nose. This was seen by the PC."

Burckett was taken from the taxi, handcuffed and made "alarming comments" while being transported to a police station.

He later admitted unlawful wounding having used excessive self-defence.

The court heard he said to police: "I did not bite him him or punch him. I didn't bite his nose did I ? He is lucky I didn't have my Stanley knife on me, I left it in my car, and for once I stood up for myself."

Mr Gearing received hospital treatment, needed to undergo reconstructive surgery and was left anxious by the attack.

"This anxiety has caused me to be suspicious of anyone I might meet; with friends and family. I try to avoid people," Mr Gearing had stated.

Burckett, a former Army corporal and ex-doorman turned businessman, was stated by people who knew him well to have acted "entirely out of character".

He'd been under strain at the time and suffered from significant mental health difficulties.

One man spoke of Burckett supporting him through bad times while in the Army. Another man described him as "kind and gentle", saying: "The defendant has cast aside the stereotype of doormen and delivered a personal, professional, respectful service to people."

Anthony Morris, defending, said: "He has expressed his remorse."

He added: "He regrets his actions wholeheartedly."

The father-of-three, of Holthouse Road, Tottington, had an 18-month jail term suspended for 18 months.

He must complete rehabilitation, 240 hours' unpaid work and pay £2,000 compensation.

Judge Julie Clemitson concluded there was a prospect of rehabilitation and that prison would have a negative impact on Burckett's family and business.

But she told him: "You should not underestimate how much your actions have had an impact on Mr Gearing.

"This was a sustained incident which resulted in serious injury. You used your teeth as a weapon."