PHTM - Private Hire & Taxi Monthly

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🔴 PHV LICENCE SUSPENDED FOR THIS BALD TYRE - Wolverhampton Compliance officers found this tyre on a a Wolverhampton lice...
22/12/2025

🔴 PHV LICENCE SUSPENDED FOR THIS BALD TYRE - Wolverhampton Compliance officers found this tyre on a a Wolverhampton licensed PHV in Manchester City Centre on Friday night.

🔴 Drivers be safe not sorry - check your tyres before every shift

🔵 WARNING CHECK YOUR TYRES On Friday night, Wolverhampton compliance officers while on patrol with Merseyside police in ...
21/12/2025

🔵 WARNING CHECK YOUR TYRES
On Friday night, Wolverhampton compliance officers while on patrol with Merseyside police in Liverpool City Centre, found this PHV with a split in the tyre wall.

🔵 Remember, check your tyres before starting every shift as tyre damage can occur at anytime.

🟧 PLYING FOR HIRE OPERATION IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE LAST NIGHT Greater Manchester Special Constables joined forces wit...
21/12/2025

🟧 PLYING FOR HIRE OPERATION IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE LAST NIGHT

Greater Manchester Special Constables joined forces with the Commercial Vehicle Unit and Manchester City Council licensing officers last night as part of Operation Aztec.

They were targeting private hire drivers breaking licensing rules by plying for hire - picking up fares without bookings.

🟧 All drivers stopped and found to be breaking the rules now face prosecution.

21/12/2025

😡 VILE VERBAL RACIST ATTACK ON PH DRIVER IN SHEFFIELD - as if the job isn’t hard enough!

An Uber driver was subjected to a racially aggravated verbal attack in the early hours of Sunday morning after refusing to take a man from Sheffield to Brinsworth in Rotherham.

The individual became further abusive during the interaction, directing racially offensive language at the driver.

Thankfully, no physical injuries were reported, but the incident has caused this driver distress and highlights the ongoing risks faced by taxi and private hire drivers whilst carrying out their work.

Cllr Rauof said
“ During the Christmas period, taxi and private hire drivers work long hours to earn a living and to provide an essential service to the public, ensuring people can travel safely at all hours. They do not deserve to be subjected to abuse, racism, or discrimination while simply doing their job.

“As we enter this busy period, the public & drivers are urged to stay safe and remain vigilant.

“Where possible and safe to do so, capturing incidents on video can provide vital evidence and will go a long way in pushing for greater measures to keep drivers safe.

“Reporting such incidents helps build a clearer picture and supports efforts to improve safety across the city.

“Unfortunately, this is what happens when hateful rhetoric gets normalised as people like the horrible individual in this video then feel entitled to openly spew racism at others.

“Taxi and private hire drivers deserve respect, protection, and the right to work without fear or harm, whilst keeping Sheffield moving.”

😡 Shame on this vile racist - if anyone recognises him please report him to the police.

🟣 GENERAL PUBLIC WARNED OF BIG FINES FOR GIVING PAID LIFTS AT CHRISTMAS Drivers who give friends lifts in exchange for ...
21/12/2025

🟣 GENERAL PUBLIC WARNED OF BIG FINES FOR GIVING PAID LIFTS AT CHRISTMAS

Drivers who give friends lifts in exchange for money this festive season could face fines of up to £2,500 if payments exceed genuine running costs and are deemed to be for profit.

Under current rules, passengers are permitted to contribute only to the actual cost of the journey, including fuel and reasonable wear and tear. Any payment above this may be classed as “hire or reward”, effectively turning the driver into an unlicensed taxi operator.

If a journey is deemed to be for 'hire or reward', standard car insurance will not apply, potentially invalidating the policy and exposing drivers to serious penalties if an accident occurs.

Police have also increased enforcement against so-called “cash for lifts” groups on social media, which operate in a similar way to unlicensed taxi services and pose significant risks to both drivers and passengers.

‼️OMG THIS IS SERIOUS - Los Angeles woman ordered a driverless Waymo taxi for her daughter — and discovered a man hidin...
21/12/2025

‼️OMG THIS IS SERIOUS - Los Angeles woman ordered a driverless Waymo taxi for her daughter — and discovered a man hiding in the trunk when the vehicle arrived

When questioned, the man failed to give a credible explanation as to why he was in the back of the taxi.

Waymo acknowledged the incident in a statement but offered few additional details about what happened.

The woman who made the discovery, for her part, said she was offered a credit for a future ride with Waymo.

‼️This incident has since raised fresh concerns around the safety and oversight of driverless taxi services, particularly how vehicles are monitored between rides.

21/12/2025

❤️ TODAYS QUESTION:
Q :’“Can I smoke OR v**e in my cab when there are no passengers onboard?”

💙 TAXI TALK ASK THE EXPERT 💙
‘The Two Dave’s weekly shorts’

Hosted by David Hunter with the knowledgeable David Lawrie from NPHTA - National Private Hire and Taxi Association - answering trade questions sent in by PHTM readers

❤️ HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Post below or click the WhatsApp button

💙 Want to catch up on previous podcasts:
https://taxi-talk.co.uk/

💙 Want to join the NPHTA:
https://www.nphta.co.uk/


⁉️ HAS YOUR PHV BEEN STOLEN? - calling Wolverhampton licensed drivers this Red Toyota Corolla has allegedly been dumped ...
21/12/2025

⁉️ HAS YOUR PHV BEEN STOLEN? - calling Wolverhampton licensed drivers this Red Toyota Corolla has allegedly been dumped unlocked on Poplar Road, Birmingham … does anyone know who this car belongs to??

🟥 PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER ARRESTED FOLLOWING SERIOUS COLLISION IN WAKEFIELD Police were called to Horbury Road, Wakefield, a...
19/12/2025

🟥 PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER ARRESTED FOLLOWING SERIOUS COLLISION IN WAKEFIELD

Police were called to Horbury Road, Wakefield, at 8:05pm on Thursday to a collision between a car and a pedestrian.

A man in his 70s suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. Thankfully his injuries are not life-threatening.

🟥 The 33-year-old Wolverhampton licensed private hire driver, who works for Pontefract firm Action Cars, remained at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention and drug driving.

He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

🔴 TfL CABBIE TO PAY MORE THAN £650 FOR BREACHING PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER NEAR HEATHROWHillingdon Council has pros...
19/12/2025

🔴 TfL CABBIE TO PAY MORE THAN £650 FOR BREACHING PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER NEAR HEATHROW

Hillingdon Council has prosecuted a Transport for London taxi driver for contravening a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and not paying a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

Dane Tonlin, from Lewisham, was ordered to pay a fine of £220, a victim surcharge of £88, and prosecution costs of £350 at a hearing at Ealing Magistrates' Court on Monday 8 December.

The case was proved in their absence by a single justice, a procedure, which allows magistrates to deal with less serious criminal cases without the need for the defendant to be present.

On 1 February 2025, the council introduced a PSPO prohibiting taxis, chauffeurs, and private hire vehicles from waiting in residential streets in the wards of Pinkwell, West Drayton, and Heathrow Villages, unless they are collecting or dropping off passengers in those streets or are based or live there.

During a routine patrol on 2 May, Tonlin’s stationary vehicle was caught waiting on Doghurst Drive, Heathrow Villages by a council environmental enforcement officer. The officer issued an FPN for the offence, which is £100 discounted to £50 if paid within 14 days. Despite a final warning, Tonlin did not pay the penalty.

The PSPO was introduced following a public consultation, which saw strong public support for the proposed measures. It aims to help prevent nuisance caused by drivers frequently parking in residential spaces, blocking driveways, littering, publicly urinating and defecating, and causing noise and air pollution by idling while waiting to collect customers from the airport.

Since its introduction the council has issued 6,252 FPNs to taxis and private hire vehicles.

Cllr Wayne Bridges, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: “The drivers of these vehicles are already provided with official designated waiting areas within the airport perimeter, yet many continue to disregard this.

“I hope this sends a clear message that we will take all necessary enforcement options to uphold this PSPO and that anti-social behaviour which negatively impacts our communities will not be tolerated.”

🟣 NORTH HERTS DRIVERS COULD FACE SANCTIONS FOR REFUSING SHORT FARES The enforcement exercise, conducted by North Herts C...
19/12/2025

🟣 NORTH HERTS DRIVERS COULD FACE SANCTIONS FOR REFUSING SHORT FARES

The enforcement exercise, conducted by North Herts Council on December 10 at Hitchin Railway Station, utilised a lone female operative who requested short journeys within the minimum fare distance.

Of seven taxis approached between 7pm and 9pm, all accepted the fare, but as a result of the operation, two drivers have received additional guidance on safeguarding and how to support vulnerable passengers.

The council state that this proactive approach helps ensure drivers understand their responsibilities and reinforces the importance of passenger safety in the night-time economy.

They also emphasised that refusing short fares is not merely a service issue but a significant safety concern.

Mick Debenham, Executive Member for Regulatory at North Herts Council, warned that such actions leave people at risk. "Keeping people safe in our night-time economy is a top priority for North Herts Council," Debenham stated.

"Taxi drivers have a clear responsibility under their licence conditions to accept short fares and refusing them can leave passengers vulnerable."

The operation is part of a broader strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG). As Debenham noted: "This operation sends a clear message that safeguarding is non-negotiable, and we will take action against those who fail to comply."

🟦 TfL APPROVAL OF RETROFIT EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR LONDON TAXI COMPANY TX4 ( EURO 5 ) TAXIS 🟦 Taxis retrofitted with this ...
19/12/2025

🟦 TfL APPROVAL OF RETROFIT EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR LONDON TAXI COMPANY TX4 ( EURO 5 ) TAXIS

🟦 Taxis retrofitted with this approved system will be eligible to remain licensed until they reach a maximum 15 year age limit, in accordance with other Euro 6 taxis.

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Private Hire and Taxi Monthly is the leading trade newspaper in the UK for the private hire and hackney carriage industry with a print run of 25,000 copies. The publication has been printed for 25 years and January 2019 saw the 316th successive monthly edition