Taxi Driver Online

The maxim 'all publicity is good publicity' might well apply to the pub landlord with the black cab in Kent, but not to this one in Essex

And an interesting twist in the latter part of the article, which is milked a tad, methinks

And, for the avoidance of doubt, 'suspended' by the office here, as opposed to his licensing council.


Woman shares concerns about taxi driver after Colchester incident

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/258 ... -incident/


Image: Panther Cabs/Gazette News

A Colchester woman says a taxi driver hurt her in the city centre after dropping her off and driving away too early.

Susan Wright got a taxi into the city centre on January 6 with her elderly mother and a friend.

They were dropped off in Osborne Street shortly after 4pm when Ms Wright’s foot was trapped in the door and the driver drove off.

The 56-year-old said: “He didn’t even stop, and he didn’t apologise. As a taxi driver, you have a responsibility for your customers.

“I feel very hurt. I got hurt and he didn’t offer any help.

“It could have been an elderly person or a child, and the outcome could have been much worse.”

Ms Wright reported it to Panther Cabs, who she had booked the taxi with.

Bridget Everitt, general manager at Panther Cabs, said: “I can confirm that we received a complaint from a customer who said a driver had run over their foot."

“My driver manager Mr Dyke has spoken to this customer many times to convey our sympathies and help with the investigation into what happened.”

Panther Cabs confirmed the driver was licenced with Wolverhampton City Council and information was passed on for the matter to be investigated.

The taxi firm provided a full statement.

Ms Everitt said: “We treat every complaint seriously and have suspended the driver while we await a report from Wolverhampton Council on how it will deal with this incident.

“We have apologised to the customer and are keeping them updated on the investigation.”

Ms Wright thanked Panther Cabs for its help but wants tougher rules on drivers keeping their licences after incidents like this.

A City of Wolverhampton Council spokesperson said: “Panther Cabs reported it to us at the time and it is under investigation."

A January 2024 Colchester licensing meeting raised concerns about drivers registering in Wolverhampton because it is cheaper, with Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles then operating in Colchester.

Colchester Council has said that complaints about a Wolverhampton-licensed vehicle must be made to Wolverhampton Council Taxi Licensing, rather than to Colchester’s licensing team.

So the W-word ends up being used seven times in the article

Of course, quite common for operators in pieces like this to try to shift the blame to the licensing council and blabber on about self-employed drivers etc.

But obviously this provides a slightly different twist. And also gives the local council here a bit of a get-out clause to the extent that they might avoid a share the reputational blame

Anyway, in the grand scheme of things I think the cross-border angle is a red herring here - it kind of all makes it sound like it wouldn't have happened but for Wolverhampton City Council. But I doubt that