Cambridge taxi drivers are suspended over training

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THREE taxi drivers who failed to turn up for training have had their
licences taken away by council officers.

The drivers were supposed to attend compulsory disability discrimination training.

But despite numerous invitations and letters throughout the year they
failed to take part.

"Failing to attend mandatory training and failure to comply with conditions
of a Licence is a serious matter," said Liz Bailey, principal environmental
health officer at East Cambridgeshire District Council.

"As the organisation which licenses taxis throughout the district, we have
to take into consideration the safety of all our passengers whether they be
able-bodied or disabled.

"We want to send a clear message to the small minority of taxi drivers
who ignore our requests to attend training that we will suspend or revoke
your licences if you don't comply with our requirements."

The training teaches drivers how to deal with various types of disabilities
from the visually impaired to those with walking difficulties.

The course also includes a discussion session followed by a multiple-choice test.

As the training forms part of the requirement to hold a licence to drive a
private hire vehicle or Hackney carriage, council officers took the firm
decision to take the 'no show' cases to the council's licensing committee,
which led to the suspension of their licences.