Number of taxi ride injuries falls

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/newsindex/display.var.2050138.0.number_of_taxi_ride_injuries_falls.php

By Will Kilner

A threefold increase in disciplinary action against cabbies who drive dangerously has fuelled a "remarkable" drop in injuries to taxi drivers and their passengers, it was claimed.

New figures acquired by the Telegraph & Argus reveal that injuries to people travelling in taxis have more than halved across the district in the last year, dropping from 84 in 2006 to 39 in 2007.

The same period saw a sharp rise in the number of cabbies being disciplined by Bradford Council for "dangerous or aggressive" driving, according to figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.


Councillor Arshad Hussain, chairman of the Council's Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Panel, said: "The increase in disciplinary action has played a huge role in improving standards among drivers and increasing safety. We will continue to be tough because we want to get fit and proper people driving taxis. Safety comes first.

"The reduction in casualties is very welcome, but I would like to see that reducing further."

Following complaints from the public, seven cabbies were disciplined over a dangerous or aggressive standard of driving in 2007, compared to just two the year before.

Complaints remain on the driver's file and can result in the cabbie appearing before a panel, where taxi licences can be revoked or suspended.

In total, 17 cabbies were disciplined by the Council in 2007 - one more than in 2006 - with complaints ranging from overcharging to verbal abuse.

Two years ago, the Council came under pressure to get tough on cabbies after two taxi drivers were jailed within five months for their involvement in fatal accidents. Coun Hussain admitted there had been problems in the past, but said there had been a concerted effort to raise standards.

Tougher action on dangerous taxi drivers has been welcomed by Lynette Twitchett, whose son Christopher Benson, 20, was killed in a hit-and-run crash involving a Bradford taxi driver as he tried to cross the A650 in Morley in May, 2005.

Despite the recent reduction in injuries to passengers, Mrs Twitchett said there were still "far too many" serious collisions involving cabbies. She said her life had been "ruined" by the incident that killed her son, for which Intkhab Alam, of Sandford Road, Barkerend, was jailed for two years and four months in March 2006.

Mrs Twitchett said: "If the Council are taking a stricter view on these things, then that's obviously a good thing. But things need to be tightened up even more. There should be more spot checks to make sure drivers have correct licences."

CD Khalid, chairman of Bradford's Hackney Carriage Association, said: "Injuries in Hackney Carriages in Bradford are low. They are very safe. The reduction in injuries is a good thing."

The biggest private hire taxi company in Bradford, Girlington Taxis, welcomed the drop in injuries to drivers and passengers, but questioned some of the disciplinary action.

Yasser Iqbal, owner of the company, said he agreed that drivers should be punished for serious offences, such as speeding or reckless driving.

"But it's over the top when drivers are always getting pulled for having a brake light out or for having a nail in a tyre," he said.

Philip Gwynne, of the Bradford-based West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, said: "It's good that the numbers are coming down sharply. The drop of about a half within 12 months is quite a remarkable achievement."

A breakdown of the figures shows there have been no fatalities to taxi drivers or their passengers in the last two years in West Yorkshire.