Claims taxi drivers are ‘falling asleep at the wheel’

A councillor who estimates that she uses taxis (Private Hire Vehicles – Ed) 1,500 times a year has been in them ‘umpteen times’ when drivers have been ‘falling asleep at the wheel’.

Councillor Corrine Chikandamina (Labour, The Nedge) asked what Telford & Wrekin Council could do to stop drivers who have been ‘pushing their luck’ by working too many hours.

Councillor Chikandamina told a meeting of the Regulatory Committee that she is an “avid taxi person” but has been in “umpteen” taxis where the driver has been “falling asleep” at the wheel.

“I have been in umpteen taxis where the driver is falling asleep,” said the councillor.

She added that she had reported incidents to the company but hasn’t heard anything back.

“How do we know that it has been dealt with?” she asked at the meeting of the regulatory committee on Thursday, June 26.

“Is there a policy in place which prevents a driver saying I’m going to push my luck here and potentially could cause an accident?”

She added: “I’ve heard that there is a mechanism but they can override that.

“I just think how is that regulated to ensure that drivers are safe to drive?”

The meeting heard that such incidents can be reported directly to Telford & Wrekin Council.

If a driver is working an “inordinate amount of hours” that could break a rule that says drivers need to be a “fit and proper person” for the job.

“It is really, really worrying and it should be reported to us and we will do what needs to be done,” a council officer told councillors.

“Companies should be monitoring it.”

The officer said he hoped that taxi drivers who have their permits from Telford & Wrekin Council were not responsible for such actions.

The meeting had heard that drivers who had their permits granted by the council have a good record of knowledge and compliance. But drivers are allowed to get taxi licences from other areas and work in the borough.