Passenger In Danger As a Uber Driver Watches Video During Ten Minute Journey.

A YouTube minor celebrity has told how he was left in fear for his safety as his Uber driver watched videos during a journey through west London.

Raphael Gomes, 23, snapped the driver watching his phone as he took a minicab home after having a haircut on Friday evening.

The Portuguese-English author - whose videos have attracted many views on YouTube - claimed the driver was watching footage from a YouTube video on his phone for the whole of the 10 minute journey.

Revealing details of the alleged ordeal on Twitter, he wrote: "My uber driver is literally watching youtube videos as he takes me home #pray for me".

Mr Gomes, who is behind the ‘ItsRaphaBlueBerry’ YouTube channel and is also a published author, also told how he noticed the man’s screen as soon as he got into the car and could see it was not showing the Uber app or mapping technology.

He said: “I was definitely surprised and a little scared at first. It made me nervous and I know how dangerous this was, so I took the pictures.

my uber driver is literally watching youtube videos as he takes me home pray for me @UberUKhttp://pic.twitter.com/5p61XPdgQX

— Raphael Gomes (@raphablueberry) December 18, 2015

“I think it was a web series on YouTube in a different language. It was definitely action-themed but I'm not sure what programme it was exactly.

“He could have injured me as a passenger or other people on the road.”

Editorial Comment :

Seems it didn't take long for the Uber PR clean up team to take action. Mr Gome (how apt) is now saying that he isn't going to make an official complaint as nothing happened (this time) and he is safe. He says he can see th humour in the situation. 

Perhaps Mr Gomes experience wouldn't have seemed so hilarious, had the driver knocked down and killed or seriously injured, a pedestrian or cyclist. Or perhaps Mr Gome would not have seen the funny side being cut out of a tangled mess and being rushed to hospital.

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Drivers using mobiles face bigger fines and more points

Just how dangerous is Uber's drivers constant use of a mobile phone as dispatch system, SatNav, Text to customers, while driving?

Motorists who use a mobile phone while driving could face tougher penalties if government plans are approved.

The government is planning to increase fixed penalty fines from £100 to £150, as well as increasing the number of penalty points drivers receive.

Penalty points would rise from three to four - and from three to six for drivers of large vehicles such as HGVs. 

Motoring groups broadly welcomed the news, but some questioned whether the plans would be an effective deterrent.

The proposals, which are part of the government's Road Safety Plan, are aimed at targeting those who repeatedly offend. A consultation will be held on the plans in 2016. 

Most first-time offenders will still be offered an educational course to help them change their behaviour.

The larger increase in the penalty points proposed for HGV drivers reflects the fact that accidents involving large vehicles can be much more severe, a government spokesman said. 

The proposals follows a previous increase in the fixed penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, from £60 in 2013 to £100.

'Social taboo'

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "Using a mobile phone at the wheel is reckless and costs lives - I want to see it become a social taboo like not wearing a seatbelt. 

"The message is clear: keep your hands on the wheel, not your phone. If you keep taking calls while at the wheel, you could end up being banned from the road."

The use of a mobile phone was a contributing factor in 21 fatal accidents and 84 serious accidents in 2014, the government said.

A total of 1,775 people were killed and 22,807 people were seriously injured in reported road accidents in 2014, government figures showed. 

Suzette Davenport from the National Police Chiefs Council said the organisation fully supported the crackdown and was determined to keep all road users safe.

"Drivers must continue to be aware not only of the risks posed by being distracted by mobile phones while in control of a car but the serious penalties which they will face if they are caught," she said.

Driver surveys show mobile phone use is seen as one of the most dangerous driving behaviours

But Tim Shallcross from the Institute of Advanced Motorists said evidence shows previous increases in fines did not change driving behaviour.

"The Department for Transport's own research this year showed that when they doubled the penalty from £50 to £100 in 2013 it made no discernible difference whatsoever," he said. 

"What deters people from using mobile phones is the fear of being caught and, frankly, with fewer police on the roads that possibility is becoming less and less."

'Real danger'

Nazan Fennell's 13-year-old daughter Hope was killed in 2011 when she was hit by a lorry on her way home from school.

The driver of the HGV was texting behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

She told the BBC: "Hope was trapped under the wheels at the front of the vehicle for about 20 minutes and nobody could help because of the size of the vehicle. She was only little - it was just terrible.

"None of those texts of calls are really worth someone's life - especially a child's."

Other motoring organisations broadly approved of the measures. 

David Bizley, the RAC's chief engineer, said: "There is still a surprising number of motorists who think it is acceptable to take a short call with a hand-held mobile whilst driving - it isn't, and is a real danger.

"Our report on motoring this year showed motorists are increasingly worried about other drivers being distracted by mobile phones whilst at the wheel."

Edmund King, president of the AA, said the majority of drivers "will welcome" the proposals.

"This epidemic of hand-held mobile phone use while driving has already cost lives.

"Three quarters of drivers see others using mobile phones on some or most journeys, with one quarter seeing it on every journey, according to our polls," he added.

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An issue that affects cabbies...An Appeal For a Your Help.

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (LBHF) is trying to impose a
blanket 20mph limit on all of its roads. 55% were opposed to the proposal in
a recent consultation - not least as the road safety case is hyped and
pathetically poor (see http://ift.tt/1NvJuQS).

I have been speaking to several drivers in LBHF (taxi- and mini-cab,
delivery firms etc). They are concerned that:
* They will be restricted to an unreasonably low speed, especially on main
roads
* They stand to be fined or even banned for doing a reasonable speed
* Their vehicles might be damaged by speed bumps etc.

I am organising a campaign to make LBHF see sense. The council has been
known to back down after sustained complaints, but we need to act before 11
January.

There is a facility to send an email message on
http://ift.tt/1RwAu1B well as a copy of the
attached leaflet (PDF attached).   

I (and many others) would be grateful, please, if your colleagues could: 
* Send an email message to LBHF and/or
* Pass on this link or attached file to their contacts.

Many thanks for your help,
Brian Mooney
Alliance of British Drivers (Hammersmith & Fulham rep) 
brian.mooney@abd.org.uk 
(also 07976 414913 for any urgent calls; please avoid 22, 26 Dec) 

More about the campaign on http://ift.tt/1NvJwbg
(http://bit.ly/1GBt5DD)

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Letters To The Editor : ITV Tonight's The Secret Of The Taxi Wars

       Image taken from ITV News Website.

Dear Taxi Leaks

Some Cab drivers are saying ITV's Jonathan Maitland  got the message across to the general public; let's have a closer look at his carefully put together message:

Uber are involved in tax avoidance.

Uber drivers are obtaining the incorrect insurance and consequently putting the general public at risk by driving with void policies.

Uber drivers are being exploited with low pay.

Jonathan Maitland explained quite clearly the differences between Private Hire and Licensed Taxis. He clearly understands what a PH driver is permitted to do and not to do. ie, plying for hire, touting, ranking etc. 

It was quite deliberate that he omitted ALL of the damaging facts and statistics regarding:

Inadequate Background checks.

Sexual innuendo/ Rape, violent racist motivated attack of a lone female, religious bigotry, terrorist motivated attacks.

Customers thrown out and abandoned in the middle of nowhere.

The atrocious standard of operation of a motor vehicles driven by Uber partners.

The fact that many Uber drivers are intentionally and willfully signing off and back onto the Uber platform to cause price surging to be implemented.

Many Uber drivers speak English to a very low standard. The Uber driver in the program was carefully selected because of his clean appearance and the fact that could speak perfect English !

Uber drivers allegedly sharing their vehicles with unlicensed individuals. There are many instances on social media claiming the driver that turned up for the ride, clearly wasn't the driver on the driver app profile!

Hacked accounts and the plethora of complaints on social media claiming claiming Uber customer service is non existent (Anthea Turner). 

Now let's look at Jonathan Maitland's subliminal message - the real message:

London Taxi drivers are paranoid about Uber; they are internet trolls involved in a propaganda smear campaign against Uber using Twitter/ social media and the #beenubered.

Maitland, throughout the broadcast referred to Uber/PH drivers and cars as... Cab drivers and Taxis, OVER and OVER again. 

In my opinion this was deliberate and designed to send a subliminal message that PH and Uber are Taxis !

Secondly, WHY did the ITV decide to air this program seven day before Christmas?

In my opinion this program was a carefully crafted piece of propaganda by ITV to promote Uber as a victim of the London Taxi Trade:

Dear Editor:

I have watched the show on catch-up and thought it leaned in our favour, however using just one local small minicab company, Spotty Cars, (what a terrible name - are they based in acne or something?) did little to show the seriousness of the situation! I think if they had spoken to PH giants like Addison Lee or Green Tomatoes, it would have given more insight into how the minicab-trade has also been let down by TfL. 

Members from the London Assembly were interviewed, but no senior people from TfLTPH regarding how UBER flout the laws whilst TfL have turned a blind eye!

They did however complain how some taxi-drivers use social media, which reflected badly on our trade. They could have also pointed out some of the many tweets from passengers who have been over charged, assaulted, punched in the face whilst being racially abused, women being told they are inappropriately dressed - the list goes on and on!

It was also good that it was pointed out that a race by two people, from the same start and finishing at the same place was won by the taxi 15 minutes before UBER arrived costing little more than £1 extra - in Birmingham where again a race took place, the taxi worked out £5 cheaper due to Uber's surge charging! 

All in all though a good stab at highlighting some of the problems we face, which the media usually always gets wrong! But again Uber were constantly referred to as Taxis and their drivers Cab drivers. 

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Meanwhile back at the Pyramids! ... By I'm Spartacus.

We had the remarkable sight this week of PH drivers protesting outside TfL over terms and conditions and the over licensing by that 'Gold' standard licensing authority of ours.

I can't  help but remind me that the earliest recorded case of 'industrial action' was by the slaves of Egypt downing tools on the pyramids over food and accommodation issues.
it's noted that whilst pay remained an issue, better grub and board did follow.

Maybe we all need to take the message that no matter how powerful the 'enemy' seems if we conduct united, concerted and coordinated action it can bring results.

We have just seen the Taxiwars documentary that whilst not highlighting all the issues, Our opposition came out in a very poor light and we must keep highlighting that.

Will it work? 

These people throw millions at PR and lobbying and for good reason but it's a very thin veneer when challenged and society in general are anti 'spin', what we have to do is spend time and money ensuring a light is shown on places that the PR 'gurus' move heaven and earth to conceal. 
I note Sports Direct are having a board meeting over concerns, we can speculate that this would not have happened without negative headlines.

So folks whilst some of us will spend at least a little time reflecting on those events in Bethlehem 2000 odd years ago, maybe after that think about those Pyramids further back in time.

Will we win?

Well we are  still in the ring, throwing punches hard and fast and this challenger must now know that the world champion won't be giving up the title without one hell of a scrap.

So Merry Christmas and the New Year message is:

'Seconds out, Round Two'

I'm Spartacus

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Just When You Thought It Can't Get Worse...Uber Announce Booking Through FaceBook Messenger...by Jim Thomas

Uber to allow users to "hail " minicabs directly from the FaceBook Messenger app.

The new service means Messenger users will be able to ask for an minicab without leaving the Facebook software. 

Users will not need to download the Uber app separately. (So are Uber now venturing into the instant hail cash market....is this legal)

"Uber on Messenger" began in parts of the US this week, the two firms said. 

The companies announced their new venture via separate blogs. 

Facebook has some 1.5 billion users globally and Uber is the world's biggest minicab-hailing app in terms of financing.

Facebook explained how the service will work in this video.

The two-step process involves tapping an address in a message or the car symbol in Messenger's menu of options and then selecting "Request a ride".

Uber will then send updates on the status of a car through Messenger.

If successful, the partnership between the firms will give Uber access to many new and potential clients - Facebook's Messenger app has some 700 million users worldwide

Editorial Comment: 

Obviously both Uber and FaceBook operate internationally. However, if they try to introduce this service in London, they will come up against a number of legislative regulations....not that Uber have taken a blind bit of notice of legislative regulation in the past, having the luxury of being supported by TfL's licensing department, who have consistently bent the regulations to suit Uber's operation. 

We asked if FaceBook were licensed as a PH operator; 

We then asked TfL if this service were to take off in London, what action would they take; 

Going in past performance, to be honest, these answers don't really put our fears to rest.

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Struggling London musician left penniless after hackers break into Uber account

A Londoner woke up on the weekend to discover his Uber profile had been hacked and his bank account emptied.

Neil, 35, from Ladbroke Grove, was billed just over £2700 for four journeys he never made.

He's adamant no one else had access to his phone, which was by his bedside all night, and is protected by a six digit pass code and touch ID fingerprint recognition.

Musician Neil noticed payments for £5, £756.03, £1395.89 and £551.97 had left his account overnight when he checked his bank statement on Saturday morning.  

He contacted Nationwide and was told Uber had made a number of withdrawals from my account.

“I’m a struggling musician with very little money at the best of times and it crippled me.”

When he contacted Uber to find out how his account had been hacked, Neil was given a cyber security lecture.

They advised him not to use the same passwords and email addresses across different platforms.

Worryingly, they also told him: “instances like this aren’t always preventable.”

As an apology, they offered Neil £12.95 off his next Uber – over two pounds less than new customers get just for signing up!

“They gave me the usual line of ‘we take your security very seriously’,” Neil said.

“But I want to know how somebody can go into your account and take your money.

“I’m disappointed Uber doesn’t have any safeguards against this – it’s obvious that a fare of £1,395 is suspicious.

“Offering me £12.95 was just insulting.”

 

It’s not the first time doubts have been cast over the Uber app’s security.

Earlier this year thousands of customers, including TV presenter and future, also claimed they were charged for trips they did not make. 

Uber finally agreed to  refund Neil, but he had no way of withdrawing money for nearly a week as the hack prompted Nationwide to cancel his debit card.

When asked to explain how Neil’s account was hacked and how other users can stay safe, an Uber spokesperson said:

“Someone would have got access to his password and logged into his account.”

When asked how users can stay safe, they repeated the line they have Neil:

“Our advice to Uber customers would be - don’t use the same username and password on all your online accounts.”

“There has been no contrition and no effort towards meaningful compensation for crippling Neil financially for a week.”

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