Small minority of cabbies STILL putting their taxi licence at risk using hand-held devices says LTDA

A small minority of taxi drivers are still putting their licences at risk using a handheld device despite ongoing warnings say taxi association.

Since 25 March drivers now face £200 FINES and SIX PENALTY POINTS for simply unlocking hand-held devices or illuminating the screen as the crack down on mobile usage began.

In London those six points could now also see their licences SUSPENDED or REVOKED as part of new licensing policies.

Police are now able to more easily prosecute drivers using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel after the Government strengthened existing laws in a bid to further improve road safety.

Motorists caught interacting with a mobile device or similar are likely to be hit with an automatic Fixed Penalty Notice.

Lloyd Baldwin, LTDA Executive SO, said in TAXI Newspaper: “We are still receiving calls from members who are getting caught with their mobile phones in their hands whilst driving. The cabbie is often filmed by a cyclist, who is only too happy to pass it onto the Police, who in turn are only too happy to give you six points and a £200 fine. This is even more concerning now with TfL’s new licensing rules meaning that you could also be at risk of losing your bill.

“In my cab, I used to have my phone in a cradle on the windscreen, to the right of my steering wheel. I have now moved the cradle to down by my left knee. I have also bought a new set of headphones, which allow me to accept calls from my wife, asking me to pop into the shops on my way home (ring a bell with anybody?), without even touching the phone.

“I have to ask, apart from a one touch movement to accept an app job, what else do we need to touch the phone for? The one touch for the app job is the equivalent of turning your radio down or switching on your heated rear screen. Please be careful.”

There is an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology.

This exemption will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. It will not allow motorists to make general online payments while driving.

This rule also extends to taking payments using handheld devices which many taxi drivers do.