Latest news with #blackcab
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jim O'Neill obituary
My friend Jim O'Neill, who has died of a heart attack aged 65, found his calling 20 years ago when he passed the London taxi cab 'Knowledge' test. A devoted Spurs fan who lived his entire life in Ilford, east London, and thus on the face of it a black cab driver straight out of central casting, Jim upended the profession's sometimes negative stereotype with his socialist views, unstinting kindness and cheerful embrace of everyone of every background, even West Ham fans. Born in Ilford, he was the second youngest of six children born to Catholic parents originally from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Bridie (nee Finlan), a nurse, and Jim O'Neill, a shop steward at the Ford car plant in Dagenham. After leaving Bishop Ward school in Dagenham aged 16, Jim worked as a labourer on building sites then as a house renovator, before being hired in 1990 as a supervisor on the Jubilee line extension project with the engineering company Drake & Scull, based in its South Woodford office. When the project came to an end after 15 years, Jim found himself on the dole and with a severely autistic son, James, to take care of. He was rescued by a friend who suggested he join him in the black cab profession. This was the life for Jim, giving him a stage for his cheerful temperament, scintillating wit and, most importantly, his practical philosophy of life, which was to do a good deed every day. Helping autistic children and adults get the most out of life was extremely important to him, but so too were his countless acts of kindness ferrying and assisting elderly people, disabled people and those who had fallen on hard times. Within his family and huge circle of friends from all walks of life, he was adored as a fount of wit, knowledge, outrageous soulboy dance moves and big-hearted charisma. In 1984 he married Gabby Pentek, who is now an office administrator for Age UK. She survives him, as do James, and Jim's siblings, Barry, Sean, Bridget, Ann and Bernadette.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
London EV Company taxi maker to cut 180 jobs in Coventry
A maker of electric taxis is to cut about 180 manufacturing jobs as sales EV Company (LEVC) has cited "increasingly difficult automotive conditions" for reducing output, which affects workers at its site in Ansty, firm said it needed to restructure to safeguard the future of the London black for new electric hackney carriages had been affected by increasing costs and a persistent decline in the number of drivers, it said. Changes in local taxi licensing policies, including relaxing emissions standards and vehicle age limits, were also a factor affecting sales, said firm has seen a series of job cuts in recent years and in 2024 posted a pre-tax loss of £104m for the previous the latest round, staff in Ansty working on electrified TX models are expected to face compulsory redundancies, as the manufacturing side of the business is firm said there would be no impact on customers, service or sales support."We unfortunately have to make some difficult decisions in order to ready LEVC for resilient, sustainable profitability and long-term growth," said Chief Executive Alex TX model taxi was launched in 2018, with about 9,000 in use in London."Ansty will always be the home of the iconic London taxi," said Mr Nan, adding the company would very soon announce its new strategic vision. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment cyclist demands money off black cab driver 'for using his phone at the wheel'
This is the moment a London taxi driver appears to be blackmailed by a cyclist who accuses him of using his phone while behind the wheel. Footage has been posted on TikTok of a cyclist approaching a black cab driver and berating him for using his phone while he was in stationary traffic. The unidentified driver can be seen with two phones, which are mounted in a cradle and not in his hand. While filming the incident, the cyclist approached the driver and said: 'What do we have over here? A black cab texting while driving. Not one phone but two phones.' The taxi driver appears to point at his phones that were docked in a holder, the cyclist continued: 'It doesn't matter mate, we're doing transactions now. So, how do we come to a solution, a conclusion? 'So, shall I just take you to court? So, just give me a tenner and I'll just let you be.' The driver then pulls over after the cyclist offered to delete the video for money but it is not clear if a transaction was made. 'Black cab, you're really risking it with a black cab,' the cyclist said. While in the layby, the taxi driver can be heard saying: 'I want to see it deleted'. The cyclist also recently posted another video after filming himself approaching a police van and telling officers that he's 'doing them a favour' by stopping drivers using their phone while behind the wheel. It is unclear in the footage if the taxi driver had used his phone while driving. Drivers are allowed to use their device for satellite navigation as long as it is docked in a holder, under current laws. Responding to the footage, the Licensed Taxi Association (LTDA) described the cyclist's behaviour as 'yet another scam'. A LTDA spokesperson said: 'The law permits touching a phone screen whilst the phone is in a fixed cradle in exactly the same way it is lawful to touch a fixed screen in a TXE or any other modern car! Tell the scammers to go forth and multiply!' Following a change in the law in March 2022, motorists can be stopped if they use a handheld phone behind the wheel for any use, not just for calling someone. This includes taking photos or videos, scrolling through music playlists, using sat nav, streaming services or playing games. Drivers face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence. Drivers hit with minimum £200 fine and 6 points for handling a phone for any of the following reasons - illuminating the screen - checking the time - checking notifications - unlocking the device - making, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet based call - sending, receiving or uploading oral or written content - sending, receiving or uploading a photo or video - utilising camera, video, or sound recording functionality - drafting any text - accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages - accessing an application - accessing the internet Source: Department for Transport The only exceptions are for making calls to emergency services when there is no safe place to pull over and to use contactless payments like Apple Pay at fast-food drive-throughs and to pay tolls. Since 2003 it has been an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in Britain, but the law was tightened after many motorists avoided prosecution by arguing they were not using it for 'interactive communication'. But what about if a driver has their phone secured in a cradle but is touching it to start or stop a video recording, check notifications or simply to see the time? A Department for Transport spokesman previously told MailOnline: 'The new updates to the law covers hand-held mobile phone use only.' He added: 'However, there are multiple distinct offences which could apply when a driver is distracted by using a phone in a cradle – and would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. 'Where a driver uses a mobile phone but does not at any point while driving pick it up, that activity is covered by wider road traffic law regarding distraction. 'As with any other form of distraction, the police could take enforcement action if they consider that the driver's level of driving has suffered.' This means it will be up to the discretion of the police to determine what level of enforcements is taken if a driver is judged to have been distracted by operating their phone in a mount. While drivers will likely not face any action if they're making adjustments to their navigation route, if they are deemed to be too distracted by their devices for any of the new reasons listed above they could face tougher sanctions.
