Taxi driver prosecuted

A taxi driver who drove on a home to school transport run while talking on a handheld mobile phone has been prosecuted.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Licensing officers had no choice but to take action when they received a complaint from a member of the public who saw Richard John Adams talking on his phone as he drove his licensed Hackney Carriage in Whitting Street, Ynyshir.

They took a full statement from the resident after the offence, which happened on January 21 this year and immediately invited Adams, aged 29, of Winslade Avenue, Tonyrefail, to attend their offices for interview.

Following this, he was charged with using a handheld communication device while driving, offences under the 1988 Road Traffic Act and 2006 Road Safety Act.

Adams initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea when he faced Rhondda Magistrates’ Court at the end of September. He was fined £60, ordered to pay costs of £200 and a £15 victim surcharge. He was also given three penalty points on his license.

A separate investigation has been launched by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Corporate Transport Unit due to the nature of the offence and its involvement with Home to School transport.

David Jones, Head of Community Protection at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “The huge majority of our taxi drivers are safe, responsible business people who work with us to ensure they are upholding the law and that their customers – and the wider community – are protected.

“Cases such as this are unacceptable and, as such, we had no choice but to take legal action. We simply cannot have our licensed taxi drivers using handheld mobile phones while they are driving. It is dangerous and this was backed up by the court, who said such a matter was a serious offence due to the risk of causing an accident as a result of reduced concentration.

“Anyone who is driving must stop safely before accepting or making a phone call and this is just as applicable to taxi drivers.”