Uttlesford private hire driver suspended after pedestrian collision in car park prompts licensing review
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A private hire driver has been suspended after a licensing panel reviewed an incident in which a pedestrian was allegedly struck by the driver’s vehicle in a car park, causing the person to fall to the ground.
The case was heard by Uttlesford District Council’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee on 5 March 2026 after officers were notified by the driver’s employer of a complaint alleging that the driver had accidentally hit a pedestrian. The pedestrian later contacted licensing officers stating that the taxi had touched them, causing them to fall over and leaving them shocked, although they did not report any injuries or express a desire to involve the police.
During the hearing, the driver told councillors they had not realised a collision had occurred. The driver said they did not see anyone while entering the car park and only became aware of the allegation after being called into the office. The driver added that four passengers had begun removing their seatbelts before the vehicle stopped, creating a distraction inside the vehicle.
The driver, who said they had previously worked as a driving instructor for more than 13 years, told the panel they never intended to hit anyone and would have offered assistance had they known a pedestrian had been injured. They described feeling “sick” at the thought they could have hurt someone.
The driver also suggested the pedestrian may have been obscured by a vehicle pillar and noted that the individual was not using a designated pedestrian footway through the car park.
After considering the evidence, councillors unanimously decided to suspend the driver’s private hire driver’s licence with immediate effect until midnight on 15 March 2026. The panel ruled that the suspension should take effect immediately in the interests of public safety.
In its decision notice, the panel acknowledged several mitigating factors. These included severe weather conditions at the time of the incident, heavy rain, strong winds and very poor visibility. Councillors also noted CCTV footage showed the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and had not looked before stepping into the car park.
The panel also took into account the driver’s clean licensing record, their attendance at the hearing, their expression of remorse and the fact they had complied with council requirements by notifying the authority about the incident.
However, councillors concluded that a suspension was necessary because the collision raised concerns about public safety. They strongly recommended the driver undergo a further eye test before returning to work and warned they did not wish to see the driver appear before the panel again. The committee ultimately determined that the driver remained a fit and proper person to hold a licence, subject to ensuring their eyesight met the standards expected of a professional driver.
The driver retained the right to appeal the decision to Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of the decision notice being issued.
