Handheld taxi driver mobile phone use still an issue which now leads to swifter TfL livlihood repercussions
London taxi drivers are still being reported for mobile phone use behind the wheel which is now causing even swifter repercussions.
As of 1 July 2024, Transport for London (TfL) introduced a stricter taxi driver policy requiring that cabbies must report any motoring conviction or police involvement within 48 hours.
This change mandates prompt notification for accepting points and paying fines for any driving offence. If a matter progresses to court, any conviction must also be reported within the same timeframe.
The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) also say they continue to receive numerous calls from members caught using mobile phones while driving, even if only momentarily or when stationary in traffic. This remains a significant issue among drivers.
Paul Kirby, S.O Executive at LTDA, shared his concerns in TAXI Newspaper: “In the week leading up to this edition, I have had three members with this issue. It is disheartening to explain the consequences. Even checking an address or route is an offence if your phone is not in a cradle.”
Drivers are being advised once more to ensure compliance to avoid severe penalties that could affect their livelihoods.
Kirby added: “If you break this law, even if you believe you are driving safely, you will face a £200 fine and six points on your licence. But the seriousness of it doesn’t stop there. Once TfL are notified, and it’s now, as previously mentioned, from 1 July, it is our obligation as drivers to notify them within 48 hours, the matter only escalates.
“TfL will then likely contact you regarding a suspension of your taxi licence, or even worse and in a lot of cases, revocation of it. As much as we all believe that this is draconian and that we are being punished twice, once by the police with a fine and points and secondly by TfL, with a threat to our livelihood, it is in their policy, and we are stuck with it.
“This is a policy that has been adopted all over the country and not just here in London.”
