Sandwell taxi driver loses licence after mounting pavement outside school
A taxi driver who mounted the pavement outside a school causing a mother to fear she and her child would be run over has been stripped of his licence.
The unnamed man was one of two drivers who had their permits revoked by councillors at a closed meeting of Sandwell’s Council’s licensing sub committee.
They had appeared before a private meeting, which was held to decide if they should be allowed to keep their licences after breaking traffic laws.
The decisions were revealed in minutes of the committee’s meeting held on September 2 where one, only identified as Mr M I, admitted he had mounted the pavement and partially parked on double yellow lines outside a primary school as parents and children were arriving.
In a witness statement given to councillors, the mother said the vehicle almost drove into her and her child leaving her shocked and fearful.
She added she had felt intimidated by Mr M I’s driving and his attitude when she challenged him.
Explaining his actions to the committee, Mr M I said a passenger had requested him to park near to the school gates and wait for them to return and he had only mounted the pavement because it was a narrow road.
But in revoking his licence the committee said he had exhibited unacceptable behaviour as a professional driver and a disregard for public safety and was therefore was not fit and proper to hold one.
In a second case heard by councillors, a driver identified as Mr I H admitted he had been convicted by magistrates for driving on a defective tyre and not wearing his seat belt after police investigated an accident when his car had hit a brick wall.
He told the committee the accident had happened as he was driving his taxi in snowy, icy conditions and had skidded on black ice.
He explained he had purchased a tyre two weeks before the accident and had assumed that it was safe.
But revoking his licence councillors said drivers should be clear of major road traffic offences for a period of three years and the committee had no reason to depart from guidelines.
