Taxi accident news
29/11/2010

Scottish Sheriff in seat belt law call after taxi accident

Cab drivers should be compelled to wear seat belts to reduce the likelihood of them dying or suffering serious injury in a taxi accident, a Sheriff said at a fatal accident inquiry in Scotland.

Sheriff George Way said in his determination at the end of the inquiry that he is recommending to Scottish ministers, and the Transport Secretary, that the regulations should be revised and taxi drivers should no longer be exempt from wearing restraints.

He acknowledged that the taxi driver, who died near Dundee when a drink driver attempting to commit suicide collided with his vehicle, might not have been saved by using a seat belt but said that some drivers might be oblivious to the benefits to their own health and safety in belting up.

The 41-year-old victim, who was taking a fare from Perth to Dundee, suffered a fatal head injury when he was catapulted from his Skoda car and onto the road after the car crash.

His passenger, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, also received serious injuries including a broken collar bone and injured ribs. He could now be eligible to claim compensation from the driver of the BMW who was jailed for six years for driving dangerously while banned, taking a car and driving with excess alcohol.