Taxi Driver Online

Evening News (Edinburgh)

August 28, 2007, Tuesday

Belt up or face a fine, police warn city's taxi passengers

TAXI passengers who do not wear seatbelts face GBP 30 on-the-spot fines in a new police crackdown.

Officers in unmarked cars will target drivers and passengers flouting the law over the next three weeks. They will focus on taxi passengers and van drivers, who are said to be among the worst offenders.

New figures out today show more than a third of people killed in car crashes in the Lothians and Borders were not wearing seatbelts. Police say two thirds of these deaths were preventable.

Inspector David Milne, who is leading the campaign, said: "The message is not getting across. There's legislation since 1993 making it compulsory in front and back seats. It doesn't appear to be reaching people.

"We will be targeting passengers in taxis, van drivers and delivery drivers. These are the worst offenders. The main reasons are laziness, and people think an accident will never happen to them.

"I think van drivers think because they're getting in and out of the vehicle they don't need to wear one, but the legislation is only if there's 50 metres or less between deliveries. There was a taxi crash on Queensferry Road last year. The passengers weren't wearing belts, and they were thrown around and suffered broken bones."

The city council said there were 307 accidents involving taxis in Edinburgh in 2006, with 79 of those involving an injury to taxi passengers or drivers. The Capital currently has 1266 licensed taxis, with the average taxi travelling around 100,000 miles every year.

One the basis of the average journey being four miles, this means there are around 31 million taxi journeys in Edinburgh per year - or approximately one injury for every 400,000 journeys.

There have been 31 road crash deaths in the Lothians and Borders in the last 18 months, and 11 of the victims were not wearing seatbelts. Insp Milne said: "Our investigations suggest seven of them could have survived if they'd been wearing them.

Everybody can expect to be charged and face a GBP 30 fine."

Taxi drivers can refuse to take a passenger if they will not wear a seatbelt. Raymond Davidson, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Association,

said: "We're in favour of anything that will improve safety. I think a change in attitude is needed. We have ample signs in the back saying it's the law, but people still ignore them.

"I think it's often because they're on a short journey, but passengers must wear them. Often when people are on a night out and have had a few drinks, then they just don't bother.

"Taxi drivers are exempt when they're working, but you see a lot more wearing them now."

Taxi driver Sharon Wilson, 45, from Tranent, East Lothian, who survived a horrific crash in Abbeyhill last year, is well aware of the importance of seatbelts in taxis.

Her passengers - a mother and her nine-year-old twins - walked away without serious injuries escaped serious injury when her cab was hit by a truck in Abbeyhill.

She said: "If they hadn't had seatbelts on, they would definitely have been much more seriously hurt. Passengers definitely need to wear them. If I slam the brakes on then you hit the screen. But I think people are less inclined to wear them at night or when they're just on a short journey."

The campaign, which runs from next Monday until September 17, will also see the police display two badly-damaged cars outside Fort Kinnaird Shopping Park and Ikea tomorrow and Thursday.

The Facts

Drivers and passengers face a maximum GBP 500 fine for not wearing a seatbelt, although usually they are given the option of a GBP 30 fixed penalty.

Passengers in taxis, cars and vans must wear seatbelts at all times if they are fitted. The same law applies to car and van drivers, although drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles are exempt while they are working.

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under 14 wear belts, and under-threes must use a child restraint. The only exception is if there is no child restraint in a taxi.

Bus and coach passengers must wear seat belts if they are fitted. The coach operator must tell passengers this.

There are some exemptions, including people with disabilities, who can wear a specially-adapted belt. Delivery drivers are exempt for journeys which do not exceed 50 metres.
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I think this figure is correct: " on average there is one minor injury involving customers for every 400,000 taxi journeys take in Edinburgh."

The first objective of any government is population control. A Government that feels its losing control of the populace brings in lots of minor laws to distract and control the masses. To make you; the people, the hoi polloi, the proletariat scum, sweat the small stuff. They need to keep everyone distracted from the bigger picture. If you are concentrating on all the small stuff then they are free to do what they want. Think Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, “The War on Terror” and anything else you might be paying for.

btw I'm not against wearing seatbelts.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Bloody hell, That sounds about right.

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Grandad,

Sad but true, we are all pawns in a much bigger game.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Some of us maybe. The rest of us are just prawns in a seafood cocktail.

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Grandad,

had so much fun at the weekend telling people to "belt up"

i did seen the traffic police pull a few PH on sat night and they were also hitting the place with speed traps only thing missing was the cab office but you know when they are around as there are zero taxis and PH to be seen