Cheltenham taxi driver who answered mobile phone is stripped of licence
A TAXI driver who answered his mobile phone while driving has been stripped of his licence.
Kevin Gamble said he took the call to hear test results for his sick son.
But Cheltenham councillors refused to be persuaded and chose to revoke his right to drive a Hackney carriage.
He was hauled in front of the borough council's licensing committee after he was stopped by police on Gold Cup day in March.
Mr Gamble asked for clemency but councillors said they had to take into account the fact he was also banned from the roads in 2008.
The committee heard that the taxi driver usually wore a hands-free phone kit while behind the wheel, but discovered it was broken the day before the Gold Cup.
With the town packed with tourists, he delayed getting a new one until after the climax to the Cheltenham Festival.
Mr Gamble said his son, who has now been diagnosed with asthma, went to hospital on the morning of race day and he was anxiously waiting to hear the doctors' verdict.
"I was expecting a phone call from my ex-partner," he said.
"The phone rang and I answered. It was Gold Cup day so it was busy and the traffic wasn't flowing, although I know that isn't an excuse.
"I was trying to find somewhere to pull over and within 200 yards I saw the lights and the police pulled me over."
Mr Gamble told councillors he loved his job.
"I need it because I have got a holiday booked next month for me and my children," he said.
"It is the first one we have had in four years, but if I lose my licence I will not be able to afford it.
"I will never make this mistake again."
At the committee meeting, chairman Diggory Seacombe said: "I'm afraid it is not your day, Mr Gamble.
"We've heard what you have told us, but unfortunately the vote has gone against you."
Although Mr Gamble was only called before the committee because of the phone offence, councillors were obliged to take into account his previous misdemeanours.
In 2006, he was stopped twice for ignoring traffic signals and was then caught speeding in a 30mph zone in 2007 and 2008.
He was disqualified from driving for six months in 2008 after speeding again.
Councillors voted by six to one to revoke his licence.
13 Comments
View all
by dan, cheltnenham
Tuesday, June 08 2010, 4:33AM
“if you were a cab driver having anybody in your car would you moan about wearing a seat belt as if a knife or gun was pulled on you wearing a belt would only delay escape, imagine someone sat behind you they could strangle you with your seat belt and then rob you, you should really think about it, at the end of the day the only person that does not wear a seat belt really risks is them itself, its a dangerous game being a taxi driver these days you really dont now whats getting in your car,!!”
by Keith, Gloucester
Monday, June 07 2010, 10:27PM
“It would seem he is well named and lost this time. Tough!
It seems the council has probably done potential passengers a favour. Who wants to be driven by a taxi driver who speeds, ignores traffic signals and uses a mobile phone on the move?”
by Sceptical, Cleeve
Monday, June 07 2010, 7:17PM
“And while we are at it...
Any PSV or HGV driver caught using a mobile should be banned for life from holding their PSV/HGV licence.
Rant over”
by Simon Henly, Eastington
Monday, June 07 2010, 5:47PM
“Tough luck!
Perhaps he should have learned his lesson after his previous convictions, still there's no telling some people..”
by Matt H, Cheltenham
Monday, June 07 2010, 4:00PM
“Re. taxi's in bus lanes, fair enough if they are officially "bus lane approved" vehicles.
But what about the non-taxi's that use the bus-lane on the Gloucester Road (A40) to jump the queue...??? I travel home into Cheltenham this way daily, and most days I see at least one non-taxi undertaking the queue of traffic - sometimes they turn off into Tennyson Road, others go right the way along and cut back in at the end of the bus-lane. Basically impatient, ignorant drivers who can't be bothered to queue like the rest of us.
Time some cameras were installed to monitor this bus-lane, and catch those using it illegally.
And on the general number of drivers using hand-held mobiles, I agree that there are many who do it - I see examples on a daily basis. A report-it facility wouldn't work, as the police need to see the act being committed, rather than following up on a report from a member of the public. It's been the law for a good few years now, so perhaps it's time the fine went up (ignorance being no defence). Make the first offence a £200 fine & 3 points on the driving licence, with a 2nd offence resulting in a £500 fine & 6 points. Third offence = £1,000 fine AND an automatic driving ban, irrespective of existing number of points on licence. Make the penalties for doing it really hurt, and the message might get through to the hard-core pillocks who still insist on driving like idiots whilst gassing on their mobiles....... It is illegal, so don't do it.
And it's also time that fines / points on licences for no tax / insurance / MOT etc. were all also pushed up, again to get the message through to the many who think the law doesn't apply to them.....
Rant over...!!!”
by R, Cheltenham
Monday, June 07 2010, 3:43PM
“Taxi's are able to use Bus Lanes as like Buses, they are in use for the general public.
Mr Gamble has been a Taxi driver for 16 yrs or so, so he knows what is what! He had chance and time to realise he won't get away with anything when he had his licence removed from him the last time.. give an inch want a yard comes to mind!
I know his son wasn't diagnosed with Asthma until May, so using and lying about his child as an excuse is sickening!”
by EJ, Cheltenham
Monday, June 07 2010, 3:13PM
“Afraid I agree with the others - the amount of people on their phones and driving is ridiculous so I'm glad to see that the police are clamping down on it, I just wish there was a way of reporting it.
On a slightly different note - why do taxis, as cars, get to use bus lanes?!”
by Digger, Gloucester
Monday, June 07 2010, 1:22PM
“Geraint and the Monk are spot on. When will drivers learn the law about mobile phones. What conversation is so important that you are prepared to put others and yourself at such risk. I equate it with drink driving. They know it is illegal, but do it anyway.”
by geraint, gloucester
Monday, June 07 2010, 11:49AM
“Yummy mummies surely top the 'driving with a mobile phone clamped to the ear' league. Not sure how they get away with it but perhaps more gay and women cops in unmarked cars might help!”
by Monk D'Wally de Honk, Cheltenham
Monday, June 07 2010, 11:01AM
“Wow, I had thought it was illegal to drive round Cheltenham WITHOUT being on a mobile phone.
Ban them all I say - especially the sloans struggling to thread their stupidly enormous Chelsea tractors through the regency street of Cheltenham with one hand as they organise lunch with the girls on the phone in their other hand.
That really grinds my gears. Van drivers and truckies too - I see them all over Kingsditch every single day.”