Taxi driver loses licence for failing to secure passenger’s wheelchair causing them to tip over

A Bristol City taxi driver has had his licence revoked after failing to secure a disabled passenger's wheelchair securely, resulting in the man toppling over. 

The council's Public Safety and Protection Committee team heard how the driver wheeled the man into the back of the taxi but instead of securing the chair with the appropriate straps, he just put the brakes on. 

During the fare, the wheelchair tipped backwards causing the man to hit his head.

The passenger hit his head so hard he had to attend hospital to undergo a CT scan.

During the unnamed driver's taxi licence review, the council were made aware of a 'lengthy previous history' of incidents which were highlighted by the Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET). 

A spokesperson for the NET said: “Earlier this year a complaint was made to the council about the driver’s failure to secure a wheelchair in his taxi which, it was alleged, resulted in a serious accident. “Officers found that the driver, instead of securely strapping the wheel chair, had simply put the wheel chair brake on and, as a consequence, during the journey the wheelchair toppled backwards and the passenger using the wheelchair injured his head. “The passenger had to go to hospital and required a CT scan." 

The committee decided to revoke the taxi driver’s licence with immediate effect. 

Image: Source; PeakPX