IN THE NEWS
DRUNK DRIVING PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER ARRESTED AFTER CRASHING INTO WELCOME TO BOLTON SIGN
A PH driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a late-night crash involving a “Welcome to Bolton” sign. The incident occurred on 14 Feb- ruary, after dark, when a silver car, reportedly being used as a taxi, collided with the sign on a motorway approach to Bolton. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed the arrest, stating:
“You’ve had a great night out, book a taxi, expect a safe ride home,
when a pesky fixed road sign jumps out on the taxi causing a crash!” The GMP Traffic unit attended the scene and arrested the driver, who, according to the police, “blew over twice the limit at roadside!” A photo released by GMP shows the car at the side of the motorway beneath the battered “Welcome to Bolton”
serious injuries were reported.
ISLE OF WIGHT TAXI FIRM FIELDS CALLS FROM DOWN UNDER AFTER TOWN MIX UP
A taxi company on the Isle of Wight is experiencing a surge of calls from Australia, thanks to a geographical mix-up involving towns with the same name. Cowes Taxis, owned by Peter Dibsdale, has been fielding requests for rides from patrons in Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria – over 10,000 miles away in Perth. “I think they come out of the pub
at closing time and they just
Google Cowes Taxis not realising it’s Cowes, Isle of Wight,” Dibsdale, 63, explained. The calls, typically arriving in the afternoons after Australian pubs close, have become increasingly frequent over the past decade. The confusion has led to some amusing, albeit frustrating, exchanges. Dibsdale recounted
FIFE CABBIES ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY OPERATING IN DUNDEE
A video showing a Fife-licensed taxi driver being confronted in Dundee has ignited a probe into allegations of illegal operation by Fife taxis across city lines. Dundee drivers claim they are facing unfair competition, with Fife-licensed vehicles allegedly poaching fares within Dundee. The footage depicts a confront- ation between a Dundee driver and a driver whose vehicle displays
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Fife Council plates. Chris Elder, of Unite the Union, asserts that this issue has plagued Dundee drivers since the Covid pandemic. He further alleged that Fife drivers have been repeatedly seen operating in Dundee, often under the pretext of delivering food. Dundee City Council has confirmed that the matter has been passed on to Fife Council for investigation.
one instance: “One guy asked for a fare
from Cowes to Ventnor,
another place we share with over there! I thought that this was a decent fare and asked where he wanted to be picked up from. But when he told me the name of the road and his location, I said it didn’t exist here! When we both realised, we had a laugh about it.” While most calls are simply a case of mistaken location, some have added another layer of complexity. Dibsdale recalled a call from an international number during Cowes Week. “I got an inter- national number phoning wanting a cab from Cowes and said to the person that he had the wrong country. However, he was actually here during Cowes week and wanted a lift back to his yacht!” Dibsdale added: “It’s all a bit of fun and light-hearted, but it can be very
irritating if we’re busy.”
Adding to the irony, Phillip Island’s former pub was named “The Isle of Wight,” further blurring the lines between the two Cowes.
MARCH 2025 PHTM
sign. Fortunately, no
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