dangerous taxi driver Options

[spartacus]

Amongst the news this week I see that the taxi driver who was run over and killed after stepping in front of a motorist who had dared to park in the Hungerford taxi rank is back amongst the living.... (page 20 NWN)

Mark Townsend may need an operation on his back following a parking dispute last month.
"I stood on the rank in front of his car. He started to edge his vehicle slowly towards me..... I was talking to the emergency operator when the man got out of the car and pushed me."
He said he was hit by the man's car and was sent flying over the bonnet before landing on his back in the road.

Ambulance, police , first responders and the fire service (WHY?) all attended the scene blocking off the High Street.

Is Mr Townsend a Premiership footballer? All this over the top reaction, rolling about nonsense..... Into amateur dramatics? Wants to be the centre of attention then?

"Flying over the bonnet"!!

And THEN it goes on to say that he's allergic to painkillers, in constant pain, has trouble moving his leg and is still receiving medical treatment. BUT...he is STILL WORKING!

This fella is still taxi-ing people round on our roads when he's on death's doorstep.... Surely he's a danger and shouldn't be ferrying people round while he's in such terrible shape. The Taxi Driver Association should be telling him to take himself out of service until he's improved. Or the WBC taxi licensing chap should be telling him he can't operate.

What if he was to have an accident and injured his passengers because he got a 'back spasm'?

This is someone who is waiting surgery on a very serious back injury.... It's a DISGRACE!!

signed
Disgusted of Newbury


(Then again.... it may be someone just trying on the compensation route... )

[Strafin]

I just read this and it would seem that the Taxi driver wanted the car to move out of the rank, and then tried to stop it from doing so, so as far as I am concerned he deserves everything he gets. I had a couple of Taxi drivers go mental at me once because I parked in front of (not in) their rank, because one of them was parked across the gates to my office, I moved because I feared the situation was going to get me my head kicked in.

[Roost]

One word to describe Mr T from this article. 4 letters, starts and ends in 'T' and has 'WA' in the middle followed by as many exclamation marks as deemed appropriate. If a car is driving towards you, common sense (yes, you remember that, don't you?) would suggest GETTING OUT OF THE WAY.....!

[lordtup]

At the risk of upsetting every taxi driver between here and Vladivostok , I concur that they are collectively the worst drivers on the planet. If you think the 4 wheel drive fraternity are bad then take time out to watch your local cabbie. He either dawdles along as though he has all the time in the world or drives like a lunatic with little or no respect for his fellow drivers.
I know they have at times a difficult job, but they are licenced to drive cars for hire,not to kill.

[regor]

So my mate said to me "I've got the most fantastic bit of kit for my car. It makes it go faster and it helps me get in front of other traffic. I can park anywhere and I never get any speeding tickets any more. It is really magic. You should get one. Here I have a spare, give me £100 and its yours."

So I gave him the money and he handed me.........


An illuminated TAXI sign.

[GMR]

Seeing as Taxi drivers are so highly respected and your recommendations are of the highest order; where do I sign up to be a taxi driver?

[Biker1]

They don't wear seat belts either do they?

One question - Why?

(Yes I know the law lets then get away with it - or has it changed?)

[JeffG]

Is there still a law that says London cabbies must carry a bale of hay in the front for the horse? I know there used to be one on the statute books until fairly recently.

[Strafin]

They don't wear seat belts either do they?

One question - Why?

(Yes I know the law lets then get away with it - or has it changed?)

They're still exempt as far as I can work out

[Strafin]

Is there still a law that says London cabbies must carry a bale of hay in the front for the horse? I know there used to be one on the statute books until fairly recently.

The law was repealed in 1976, so long after the horses were replaced with cars, but not that recent though.

[GMR]

They don't wear seat belts either do they?

One question - Why?

(Yes I know the law lets then get away with it - or has it changed?)

As theory has it; they have to keep getting in and out of the car - but not when it is moving

[Biker1]

They're still exempt as far as I can work out

Does this mean they are exempt from being seriously hurt in a crash?

[Iommi]

Does this mean they are exempt from being seriously hurt in a crash?

It is so they can quickly get out of the vehicle if attacked by passengers. I think they are meant to wear one when not carrying a passenger.

[Darren]

More at risk of making up-close and personal contact with the windscreen than anything else.

[Iommi]

More at risk of making up-close and personal contact with the windscreen than anything else.

Statistically untrue I understand.

[Instigator]

It is so they can quickly get out of the vehicle if attacked by passengers. I think they are meant to wear one when not carrying a passenger.

That's also the understanding I have.

[Biker1]

More at risk of making up-close and personal contact with the windscreen than anything else.

I've seen them not wearing one with an 80 year old granny in the back!

Perhaps she'll hit then with her umbrella.

Lets face it.
They should be made to wear one like the rest of us.
It doesn't take long to unclick a seat belt.

If you and I need to wear one to protect ourselves from injury then so do they.

[Iommi]

Lets face it. They should be made to wear one like the rest of us. It doesn't take long to unclick a seat belt. If you and I need to wear one to protect ourselves from injury then so do they.

Are you a taxi driver?

When one is being attacked, the first thing you do is hold your hands up to protect yourself, not fiddle with a seatbelt.

[Biker1]

Are you a taxi driver?

When one is being attacked, the first thing you do is hold your hands up to protect yourself, not fiddle with a seatbelt.

So you're driving along and someone attacks you and the first thing you do is hold your hands up?

In that case you're definitely going to need a seat belt!

And the answer to your question is no, obviously not.
But I am a driver and I am forced by law to wear a belt for my own protection.
(And a crash helmet when biking). YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!

Anyone can make excuses for not wearing one.

[Iommi]

So you're driving along and someone attacks you and the first thing you do is hold your hands up?

I don't know, because, like you, I haven't been a taxi driver, nor have I been attacked.

They don't have to, by law, wear one when taking a fare paying passenger. So it makes diddlysquat difference what you or I think. Taxi drivers argued to be excused and legislation was passed to permit this, so I would imagine they argued a reasonable case to get this.