TAXI drivers from across Dudley joined together in Stourbridge town centre this weekend to hold a Taxi Awareness Day.
On Saturday (April 8), Dudley Private Hire & Taxi Association (DPHTA) drivers spoke more than 500 people in Crown Square as they aimed to raise safety awareness for drivers, as well as highlighting the work of the association.
They were joined on the day by Dr Sidu, from University of Birmingham, who is conducting research on how to improve health for the association’s drivers.
The event comes after a number of high profile attacks have taken place on Dudley taxi drivers in the past 12 months.
These include one Brierley Hill driver who was left for dead in the town centre after being beaten up by a group of men, while another driver was left bloody and bruised after an attack outside Stourbridge’s Arena nightclub in July.
A driver also suffered a hand injury in March after being attacked by a passenger with a knife in his cab while parked on the forecourt of a BP petrol station in Stourbridge.
Shaz Saleem, chairman of DPHTA, said: “Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of customers and drivers.
“Drivers are here to earn a living and to provide for their families, they should not be subjected to attacks.
“We are very proud to have launched the first ever personal attack insurance cover in partnership with Insurance4u. This cover only costs £50 for a 12 month policy and protects the driver from any unprovoked attacks.
“The association is the first of its kind to offer this cover.”
During Taxi Awareness Day, Dudley CIL were also present as the association stressed the importance of a law passed on April 6 on not refusing or overcharging wheel chair users, while David Pawlaszek-Lawrie from Safe Systems was also on hand to show the drivers the importance of CCTV.
Dignitaries including Dudley North MP Ian Austin, chairman of Dudley Council’s taxi committee Councillor Richard Body and Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Mohammed Hanif, also supported the event.
Cllr Body added: “We're very proud of our drivers who have took a lead on this. It goes without saying we have the best drivers in the midlands.”
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