Taxi Driver Online

Partially sighted taxi driver loses bid to keep job

A PARTIALLY sighted Hampshire taxi driver has lost his appeal to stay on the road. Council chiefs told Martin Guy it would not be renewing his private hire driver's licence because he'd lost the sight in his right eye.

The 57-year-old's bid to overturn the ruling was backed by magistrates in January, prompting the council to appeal to Winchester Crown Court. The court heard that Alresford-based Mr Guy, who has been a taxi driver since 1970, had undergone five operations to correct sight problems brought on by diabetes.

But despite totally losing vision in his right eye in late 2002, the city council did not learn about his condition until 2007.

Licensing chiefs argued that Winchester City Council refused to renew the licence because he did not meet medical standards laid out by the DVLA. But Mr Guy, of Kiln Lane, Old Alresford, claimed he did not hold a Group 2 licence and should not have to meet the DVLA's criteria.

He added: "I have never had any complaints about my driving - I've customers who know I'm blind in one eye and they still use me. "I can't suddenly stop driving, I have to carry on working to live. I've got a daughter going through college, who lives with me."

But Judge Thomas Longbotham ruled in favour of the council. He said: "The burden of proving an exception to go against the council's policy lies on the individual and this court has heard no medical evidence of this."

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IDFIMH

We have 2 drivers in our area with only one eye. They have no problems at the moment.

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Grandad,

I feel sorry for this gentlemen losing his livelihood as most people will do. Considering the chap had been driving passengers for so long without incident I just wonder if these councillors ever explored an alternative solution?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

They don't care and they never did.

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

They could employ him as an enforcement officer, they all go totally blind at illegal activity, especially when it's unsociable hours. But seriously JD my mind boggles as to what your alternative solution would be??

Oh and btw, I know of a number of Edinburgh Taxi Drivers with one eye.

I have no doubt, a councillor, on seeing the above ruling, will be lining these guys up for the chop ... a job well done and all that .. . .


Now I remember, it's all for the public good . . . .

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

I would probably try an do a Solomon and ask for the statistics on accidents caused by drivers with two perfectly good eyes and then compare those statistics to accidents caused by drivers who had only one eye. If the statistics proved that drivers with two perfectly good eyes caused more accidents than drivers with only one eye then I would suggest that drivers with one eye were statistically safer than drivers with two eyes and accordingly redeem his licence. lol

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Maybe he could or should be assessed by a DSA qualified instructor, or made to pass the DSA taxi test.

If he can pass those requirements then I can't see why he shouldn't be able to carry on working.

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IDFIMH

What ever happened to the DDA?

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Grandad,

If I was him.. I would be knocking on the local disabled groups door..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Many councils think it only applies to passengers

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

A similar case that we reported but I haven't any more information on that particular case, perhaps someone else does?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

what about grandfarther rights, when he first became a cabby medicals were not so strict,perhaps gordon brown would help him hes blind in one eye.