Contest to find top cabbie
Taxi drivers have launched a competition to find the best cabbie in Brighton and Hove. Drivers will have to prove their skills negotiating an obstacle course as part of their bid to claim the £1,500 prize for the sponsored event.
Rather than avoiding drunken revellers in West Street on a Saturday night, cones will be used and marshals will time their performance around a specially designed track.
Andy Cheesman, managing director of Brighton and Hove City Cabs, said: "The winner on the day will take the money. I think there's some who think they could be the favourites but I wouldn't like to say who.
"We would certainly expect the standard to be very high. Sometimes taxi drivers can be seen as too confident on the road but we'd expect to see some polished professionals out there. "Let's hope not too many cones get knocked down."
Open to all the city's cabbies, the first Taxi Driver Of The Year competition will take place in Madeira Drive on Sunday, March 26. Points will be awarded on the presentation of the cars displayed and organisers hope the event will prove a popular weekend attraction, as well as highlighting the driving skills of the city's cab drivers.
Mr Cheesman added: "On a more serious note, over the last ten years there's been a huge number of accidents on Sussex roads but only two minor incidents involving taxis. When you think the average taxi driver does between 30,000 and 35,000 miles a year, compared to 12,000 for the average motorist, our accident rate is extremely low."
Other attractions, such as a bouncy castle and stalls are being arranged, and if successful the competition could become an annual event. With a presentation dance and charity dinner to follow, organisers said it was the first opportunity for cabbies to get together for about 15 years.
Money raised will go to The Argus Appeal and Brighton-based children's charity The Rockinghorse Appeal. Elsa Gillio, Argus Appeal coordinator, said: "We're really looking forward to the first of hopefully many Taxi Driver Of The Year competitions.
"We know there's nearly 1,500 taxi drivers in the city. We're very pleased and proud to support them and we thank each and every one for choosing us as their charity. "We both service our immediate community. Now we just pray for some sunshine on the day of the competition."
Sponsored by cab companies throughout the town, as well as Skoda dealers Saltdean Garage and Westminster Motor Insurance, organisers also hope to raise funds for outings for underprivileged and disabled children.
The presentation dinner will be held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, on Monday, April 3.
Details at
www.brighton-taxi-events.co.uk
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