Taxi Driver Online

Cheltenham taxi driver who answered mobile phone is stripped of licence

A TAXI driver who answered his mobile phone while driving has been stripped of his licence. Kevin Gamble said he took the call to hear test results for his sick son.

But Cheltenham councillors refused to be persuaded and chose to revoke his right to drive a Hackney carriage. He was hauled in front of the borough council's licensing committee after he was stopped by police on Gold Cup day in March.

Mr Gamble asked for clemency but councillors said they had to take into account the fact he was also banned from the roads in 2008. The committee heard that the taxi driver usually wore a hands-free phone kit while behind the wheel, but discovered it was broken the day before the Gold Cup.

With the town packed with tourists, he delayed getting a new one until after the climax to the Cheltenham Festival. Mr Gamble said his son, who has now been diagnosed with asthma, went to hospital on the morning of race day and he was anxiously waiting to hear the doctors' verdict.

"I was expecting a phone call from my ex-partner," he said. "The phone rang and I answered. It was Gold Cup day so it was busy and the traffic wasn't flowing, although I know that isn't an excuse. "I was trying to find somewhere to pull over and within 200 yards I saw the lights and the police pulled me over."

Mr Gamble told councillors he loved his job. "I need it because I have got a holiday booked next month for me and my children," he said. "It is the first one we have had in four years, but if I lose my licence I will not be able to afford it. "I will never make this mistake again."

At the committee meeting, chairman Diggory Seacombe said: "I'm afraid it is not your day, Mr Gamble. "We've heard what you have told us, but unfortunately the vote has gone against you."

Although Mr Gamble was only called before the committee because of the phone offence, councillors were obliged to take into account his previous misdemeanours.

In 2006, he was stopped twice for ignoring traffic signals and was then caught speeding in a 30mph zone in 2007 and 2008. He was disqualified from driving for six months in 2008 after speeding again. Councillors voted by six to one to revoke his licence.

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IDFIMH

I suppose some would think it was extreme and on it's own it probably is but some people never learn and this chap is obviously one of them

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

A bit harsh IMO, maybe a 6 month suspension with the understanding that he was in last chance saloon after serving it.

I agree he's been bought before the Council before so a 2nd time in front of them is going to be a hard one to fight.

If your phone rings and you've not got hands free leave it anf phone them back.

It maybe only his 2nd time before the council, but, it's his 6th noted offence in 4 years. It would appear this chap is a regular offender of one thing or another. I think if this post was to include the death of a pedestrian everybody would be asking why the council didn't take action beforehand

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Several drivers round here have been caught by the police and fined none have been threatened with suspension of their license in fact I cannot remember any cases involving local drivers threatened with losing their badges for anything except going over the 12 points

Stick to the facts Toots !! Cause the headlines would be different..

That's why.....

Those are the facts as I stated them.



That was just a comment I made so you may look at it from a different point of view if the circumstances were slightly different. You base you're opinion on the fact that nobody has been hurt on these occasions I was just pointing out that somebody could have been and the opinions would have been very different if that was the case.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I think he was harshly treated, and if he appeals to the courts he has a reasonable chance of getting his license back.

On the scale of iffy things drivers do, using your phone whilst driving is pretty low down on my list.

Now we are paying for him to be on the dole.

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IDFIMH

How many times we all done the same ??

His only prob was getting caught...Still think it was a harsh sentence.

“not a fit and proper person”could it be this guy has served his purpose? By sending a message to everyone, what will happen, if you are caught driving while using a mobile phone?

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

Another case law for the powers that be....

Do you think he will appeal, if not to the council but a magistrate??

If the road was quiet and the town wasn't full of tourists then maybe it is low down on the list of stupid things drivers do. It was busy the traffic may have been at a stand still but he should have ignored it, pulled over and then returned the call. He managed to ignore the red traffic lights a couple of times so why not his phone

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!