This BBC report says that Northamptonshire police are set to target poor driving standards amongst taxi drivers and vans. Well, they have their work cut out there.
The story says, though, that:
Officers will be carrying out checks to make sure that all Hackney and private hire drivers and their vehicles are properly licensed…
Sgt Bob French, coordinating the operation, said: “Driving under the influence of drink or drugs, using a mobile phone, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt are the four key causes of collisions involving death or serious injury.”
Right. So it’s not really going after bad drivers – just the usual relatively soft targets. After all, the police should already be targeting drink, drugs, mobile phones, and seatbelts. Shouldn’t they?
If the police want to impress the public with something that’s really new, perhaps they should target taxi drivers who stop or turn wherever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want, whatever the signs or yellow lines say. That’s far more important to me than whether or not a taxi has got a valid licence to pick up fares.
And the same goes for van drivers – ALL van drivers, Yes, including those who work FOR the councils who are involved in this operation. Dustbin lorry drivers are some of the most arrogant prats on the road, deliberately stopping between parked cars and reversing into narrow roads to empty bins, and causing major hold-ups (usually during morning rush hour).
The smell of hypocrisy is strong in this one!