TaxiForums.co.uk, The Taxi Drivers Forum - The forum for taxi drivers in the UK!

A taxi driver received eight penalty points on his licence for talking on his mobile phone while driving.

The licensed Rother driver was spotted by an off duty police constable taking a booking for a fare while driving a passenger on the busy A20 in London.

He appeared before the Rother Council's Taxi Licensing Panel and admitted talking on his mobile while driving for over 10 seconds and at the same time writing down an 11-digit telephone number.

He explained his hands-free device had not been working.

The Panel Chairman, Councillor Wendy Miers, told the driver he needed to find a safer way of taking bookings.

Drivers who accumulate 12 penalty points in a year are automatically referred back to the Panel for consideration as to whether they are a fit and proper person to continue to hold a hackney carriage licence and run the risk of losing their licence altogether.

Click here for source

Well I have no sympathy for anyone with a phone stuck on there lug !
His handsfree was not working and his concern for killing other road users was also not working.
Hands free / blue-tooth ear-piece is cheap as crap ! Have 2 incase 1 breaks ( Simple isn't it )...
But making the fare was of more importance than not killing someone.

when we go out to work be prepared !!! Make sure hands free is working ( CHECK )
Do not answer a phone by physically putting it to your ear, Pull in and call the missed call back when its safe..

Or you could do as this bloke has done and make us drivers look unprofessional and a direct hazard on the road.

Steve