HORROR TIMES – WHO IS


Article by Dave Lawrie, Director NPHTA info@nphta.co.uk


As we approach Christmas, with Covid a distant memory for most, we reflect on the last year and look to the year ahead. We would love to say that things have improved, drivers being far safer and better protected now than they have ever been, but sadly this is not the case.


The number of attacks on drivers has not reduced, in fact they have massively increased. There are still plenty of horror stories; from drivers being attacked, having their vehicles forcibley taken from them, stabbings, vicious assaults and murders, resulting in drivers being hospitalised and traumatised. And those are only the minority that get reported, the majority, in excess of 90% of attacks go unreported.


WHAT ABOUT THE PASSENGERS?


For all we know, passengers may have been released from prison that day having served time for murder, rape, drug trafficking, GBH or any other offences - the driver is alone with them! The driver could also be alone with potentially a car or minibus full of drunks or drug abusers. Of course we’re not suggesting most people are bad, but the reality is the driver is the one who is vulnerable, far more than any passenger ever has been or will be.


THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE!


We have highly criticised the decision makers and the policy writers, including the Government’s statutory standards and most local authority licensing con- ditions, policies and publications, which all paint a very poor image of the industry by only highlighting the bad behaviour from the very small minority, and failing to emphasise the good that the majority do, such as:


1. Disney trips for children 2. Free transport for veterans on Remembrance Day 3. Free transport to NHS workers/patients during Covid 4 Going out of way to help elderly and less able bodied 5. Waiting at people’s doors to ensure they enter safely


This is second nature for most drivers but we never see any of those activities highlighted, only ever the rogues.


LACK OF ENFORCEMENT WHO IS VULNERABLE?


I have spelt out the reality many times, via every conceivable medium that all drivers have: 1. Enhanced DBS checks


2. Most are signed up to the update service to verify no changes to DBS status, not only reports made or new convictions, such a change may simply be a change of address


3. Group 2 medical reports regularly, which is the standard for PSV and HGV, but has been adopted for licensing.


4. Most have safeguarding courses 5. Driver training courses 6. Disability awareness training 7. And a whole raft of other conditions


Our industry is one of the most heavily regulated in existence, all drivers have proven that they are fit and proper to provide such a service to the travelling public before obtaining a licence to do so.


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The reason most incidents go unreported, is that drivers feel that “no one cares” or “it’s a waste of time” is due to lack of action and the attitude of those who should be protecting the trade, including:


1. Police call handlers who say “it is a civil matter” - NO IT IS NOT, racial abuse, theft, physical attack, wilful damage etc. are all criminal offences


2. Police call handlers refusing to provide a log reference number – this means there are no police logs or statistics, making it very difficult to obtain any official records of the vehicle/driver attacks, thefts, runners or racial abuse experienced by drivers on an hourly basis


3. Lack of attendance by police – due to the know- ledge that there will be a lack of evidence, meaning there is little they can do to help, or maybe since they know that:


4. CPS dismissing cases seen as not being likely to gain conviction – which means that most cases never see the courts


DECEMBER 2024 PHTM


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