The Southampton Hackney Association were saddened to hear about the murder of London minicab driver Abdi Gutale last month. Having finished his shift at 3am, the driver was on his way home to his family when he was fatally shot as he travelled down a residential street. This horrific story highlights the risks that taxi drivers undertake every day. Shockingly, Abdi Gutale is the 66th taxi driver to be murdered in the UK in a 24 year period. This statistic is a stark reminder of what a volatile and dangerous job taxi driving can be.

 

We are relieved to hear that a man has since been charged with the murder of Mini Cab driver Abdi Gutale, and our thoughts go to his family and friends.

 

Conversely, In order to ensure the safety of our passengers, SHA drivers are licensed and regulated by Southampton City Council which requires an enhanced DBS check. In addition to this, a majority of our drivers hold NVQ and BTEC qualifications in transporting passengers. To make certain our vehicles are roadworthy, they are MOT checked every year with cars over 2 years old undergoing an additional roadworthy test and all taxis are retired after 9 to 12 years. We are committed to our passengers safety which is why almost all of Southampton Hackney Association taxi’s are installed with CCTV.

 

With Southampton licensed taxi drivers your safety is paramount.