‘IT GETS WORSE’: Private hire driver arrested in Manchester for alleged drug driving and no insurance
- Perry Richardson
- 40 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Greater Manchester Police have arrested a private hire driver after an incident on Ashton Old Road in which officers say they witnessed aggressive manoeuvres during heavy traffic.
The driver, who was working at the time, was stopped by GMP’s traffic unit following a series of overtakes that officers described as unsafe.
According to information shared by the traffic unit, the stop quickly escalated when the driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. Checks also indicated that the vehicle was operating without valid insurance, leaving the driver facing multiple potential offences.
Local authorities can issue immediate licence suspensions if a driver is deemed a risk to public safety, and operators may face questions about how effectively they monitor driver compliance when it comes to lack of insurance. Insurers and fleet managers are also likely to take note, especially where vehicles are used without the required cover.
Greater Manchester Police report aggressive driving incident leading to arrest on Ashton Old Road
The location of the stop, Ashton Old Road, is a major route into the city centre and often congested during peak periods.
While further details on the case will depend on the outcome of the investigation, the arrest highlights the operational risks for the wider taxi and private hire industry when standards fall below regulatory expectations. Licensing bodies continue to stress that drivers must maintain full compliance at all times when working, including valid insurance and adherence to local conditions of carriage.
A GMP Traffic spokesperson said: “Not all "Professional drivers" are "Professional drivers" This on duty private hire driver was stopped on Ashton Old Road for overly aggressive driving and overtakes in heavy traffic. It gets worse, arrested for drug driving and having no insurance.”
