London cab firm drivers told to defy bus lane law

Transport for London threatens prosecutions and licence withdrawal against taxi drivers who contravene regulations

London’s biggest taxi company and Transport for London (TfL) are on collision course after the company's chairman instructed his 4,000 drivers to defy the law and use bus lanes.

Buses, taxis and motorbikes are the only vehicles allowed to use bus lanes, but John Griffin, the chairman of Addison Lee, has asked for a judicial review of the regulations, which he describes as unlawful.

Griffin wrote to his drivers last week and told them to drive in bus lanes pending the result of the judicial review. "Addison Lee believes that we cannot allow our customers to continue to be victims of this unfair and discriminatory treatment.

"As chairman, I can advise you that a lawful interpretation of the bus lane regulation entitles Addison Lee drivers with private hire identifiers to use all bus lanes in the same way as our competitors. Accordingly, you are fully entitled to use the bus lanes."

TfL hit back on Sunday, threatening to prosecute and withdraw licences from drivers who use bus lanes. "Under current regulations, driving a private hire vehicle (PHV) in a bus lane, during the hours when the bus lane is operative (and other than to pick up and set down passengers) is a criminal offence for which PHV drivers may be personally prosecuted," wrote John Mason, director of taxi and private hire for TfL in a statement.

Griffin told his drivers that he would indemnify them for any fines they might receive for following his instructions. But TfL said that this offered no protection from having their licences revoked.

Mason concluded: "Drivers who repeatedly contravene traffic regulations, including by intentionally driving in Bus Lanes, other than to pick up or set down passengers, may be considered unfit to hold a PHV driver's licence; and operators who encourage such conduct may be considered unfit to hold a PHV operator's licence."

The dispute comes as Addison Lee prepares to expand its operation during the London Olympics this summer with £12m of finance from Barclays.

John Griffin founded the company in 1975 with a single car and he hopes to expand its business beyond the M25 in coming years. The company makes 25,000 journeys in London per day and last year the company had a turnover of £127m. In the same year, Griffin was paid £3.6m.

The row threatens to cause disruption to London's traffic as black cab drivers have vowed to take action to enforce the law. Some drivers plan to pull up in front of Addison Lee cars using bus lanes and photograph them. The photographs would then be provided to the police and Transport for London. Addison Lee and the Metropolitan police said on Sunday they were unable to contact senior management for further comment.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-02