Lights out for taxi drivers across city

Dozens of cabbies quit trade as new measures take effect

Taxi drivers are quitting the trade in their dozens in Dundee as coronavirus restrictions and a sharp downturn in custom strip them of their living.

Bosses say as many as 30 cabbies have given up already and measures announced this week, including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants and ban on visiting people in their homes, mean more may have to turn to benefits and foodbanks.

Taxi union member Chris Elder said: “The new restrictions will have a devastating effect.”

He spoke as it emerged hundreds of students have been ordered to self-isolate following a suspected outbreak linked to the Parker House halls of residence, amid the highest daily rise of cases in Scotland since the pandemic began.

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The driver of a licensed vehicle will be picking up a wide variety of customers. PM’S OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN

Chauffeur-driven cars will be exempt from new laws forcing passengers to wear masks in taxis to slow the spread of coronavirus, Downing Street has said.

Boris Johnson announced that passengers in licensed vehicles would have to wear coverings under new restrictions in England aimed at preventing a resurgence of Covid-19.

But No 10 said the measure, to come into force today, would not include passengers in chauffeur-driven cars, though the driver’s employer would have to ensure they could work safely.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The employer of the chauffeur will have to make sure that their employees can work in a Covidsecure way.”

But pressed if chauffeurs are covered by the new law, the spokesman said: “The important point to make is the driver of a licensed vehicle will be picking up a wide variety of customers throughout the day but it’s important to protect the driver from being infected from a significant number of different people.

“The scenario that you’re describing, that person would only be a single individual around so I don’t think they’re comparable.”

The spokesman said he would check whether the rule applies to ministers being driven around in ministerial cars.

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards/steve Brown. Top: Dundee taxi drivers are quitting after the new Covid restrictions were announced regarding the pub closure curfew. Drivers Ronnie Cargill and Chris Elder pictured at the Meadowside taxi rank. Above: Sinclairtown Primary School, Kirkcaldy.