Plymouth taxi driver caught speeding three times, in one morning, on same road
A TAXI driver could be facing suspension after he was caught speeding three times in one morning – on the same road.
But angry dad-of-four Dean Gillard has blamed the council for landing him in "a chaotic pile of mess" by lowering the speed limit along Gdynia Way.
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Dean Gillard
The 40-year-old, who has been a cabbie for nearly two decades, had a clean driving licence until being clocked speeding along the busy city centre route three times in just over four hours.
He has complained that there is not a single road sign along the stretch advising drivers of the 30mph limit.
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And until last year's multi-million-pound East End roadworks, Gdynia Way had been a 40mph zone.
Gillard, who was in the dock at Plymouth Magistrates' Court yesterday to admit the speeding offences, now has nine penalty points to his name.
It means he could be forced to convince council licensing officers not to confiscate his badge.
"I've been taxiing here for 18 years and as far as I'm concerned it's always been 40mph," he said.
"There was no warning at all and no 30mph signs when you're coming up Gdynia Way from Plymstock.
"The only sign is when you're coming back from Plympton.
"It seems to me like they're just out to make money from people.
"It's clear from the speeds I was doing that I thought I was sticking to the speed limit. I'm not a boy-racer.
"But I've now gone from having a clean licence to having nine points in a single morning."
The court heard how Gillard had been clocked by 'average speed check' cameras three times in the early hours of December 18 last year.
He was behind the wheel of a colleague's Renault Laguna when it was recorded as breaking the speed limit at 2.28am, 5.38am and 6.30am.
The court heard how Gillard was driving at between 38mph and 41mph.
The Excel Cabs driver told magistrates he would lose his job if his license was revoked.
"I genuinely believed the road was 40mph," he told the court. "I didn't know it had changed."
But Gillard was told by the bench: "If there are no speed signs, assume it is 30mph."
The debacle has seen Gillard hit with £150 in fines, £60 in court costs and £30 in victim surcharges – all of which must be paid within 28 days.
But he is more concerned about facing Plymouth City Council's taxi licensing committee, which could decide not to renew his licence when it runs out in September.
"I'll probably have to go before the committee to explain why I've suddenly got so many points," added Gillard, of Greatlands Place in North Prospect.
"They could suspend me for this, perhaps for 28 days.
"I have a young family to support including a one-year-old daughter, and how am I supposed to earn money if I can't work?
"In my eyes this is just wrong. It's just a chaotic pile of mess."
Gillard is not the only motorist to have fallen foul of the speed limit change in Gdynia Way.
A van driver told The Herald he received his first speeding ticket in 46 years of driving after being clocked doing 39mph on the same stretch.
The Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership, which operates speed cameras across the city, said it was unable to reveal how many people had been issued with speeding tickets since the new limit came in because figures are only compiled once a year.
But a council spokeswoman said: "Gdynia Way has now been a 30mph speed limit since last November when it opened.
"When the speed limit changed from 40mph appropriate signs were put up on the road.
"The Highway Code states that in areas of street lighting the speed limit is 30mph unless another limit is specifically signed."
Comments
by MPstink1
Thursday, July 26 2012, 11:43PM
“Gillard proves many taxi drivers are dangerous and ignorant.”
by Charlespk
Thursday, July 26 2012, 8:49AM
“Yes God. . I'll bet you find it dark stuck like that all the time. . Doesn't your halo get in the way?
If there are not the correct signs, it doesn't matter how many times he was booked, they were not legal bookings. . As long as he was driving safely, which I'm sure he was, he has a case.”
by Winstonsmith0
Thursday, July 26 2012, 8:22AM
“A taxi driver got caught speeding - not once but THREE times in one morning.
Not the first Taxi to get a speeding ticket.
He should know better
He tries to blame others for his failings
Now the cost of his choice to speed hits home he looks for excuses
Tough
Be professional, put your hands up, learn from it - don't try to excuse it.
Thank goodness nobody got hurt”
by Charlespk
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 10:08PM
“You are a classic.
The force isn't what it was is it.
No doubt you'll soon be taking early retirement. . Poor luv.”
by Charlespk
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 10:05PM
“Do you really want to start?
I see you've written an essay.
I never make things personal.
I simply comment and respond.
You just all turned it into a 'Witch Hunt'.”
by Winstonsmith0
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 2:04PM
“@Charlespk
if you wish to make it personal;
you wrote -
"Who is the bigger menace to society. (?)
The drug takers or the Taxi Driver. (?)
The habitual criminals or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Travellers or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Shoplifters or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Illegal immigrants or the Taxi Driver. (?) (do you have a race problem?)
Metal Thieves or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Undisciplined, belligerent school children or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Cyclist riding on pavements or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Cyclists ignoring Red lights or the Taxi Driver. (?)
Town Hall Job's Worths or the Taxi Driver." (?) (okay, I'm melting slightly on this point)
. . . Well, Charlespk, if the taxi driver is supposedly a "professional" driver of 18 years experience whose profession dictates he drives professionally and responsibly with due care for the safety of passengers and other road users;
If he is a "local" man who would be very well aware of the roadworks in that part of the city and highly likely to read the Herald when they announced the new speed limit last year.
If he drove that route whilst a 'grace' period was in place to allow motorists to get used to it and saw any of the signage in place.
If he was recorded by traffic cameras speeding and therefore placing at risk both his passengers and other road users - particularly oncoming traffic.
. . . If he then did the same thing THREE TIMES IN ONE MORNING!!!
Then THE TAXI DRIVER is the bigger menace at this moment and deserves the full weight of the law and we should be thankful the headlines do not read 'innocent family killed in collision with speeding taxi'!
Let's face it - this guy has been caught not once but three times then he, as a professional, should know better and, frankly, I would expect the council to make an example of him to show all other professional drivers they are not above the law.
I would expect no less if it were a Police car.
You might think it unfair - tough; it's the law. The law aint fair!
It's you who just doesn't get it - do you?
Now, if you don't mind, I have an air display to attend.
missing you already”
by Charlespk
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 11:16AM
“M Dalston. . This is a comments page. . Not a 'discussion'.. What you 'think' doesn't count.
It's a commercial operation on the WWW. . . They require 'footfall'.
Most apparently turned it into a 'Witch Hunt'.
It's what I call "facebook fever" or "Twitters Itch".
I thought the guy needed an advocate.”
by m_dalston
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 10:59AM
“I think there should be a limit of 3 posts per person per article. No-one can be bothered to read through this **** by a handful of people anymore which can't be the purpose of a discussion.”
by Charlespk
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 10:52AM
“Winston wants to play RED Arrows now.”
by Charlespk
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 10:48AM
“Quote:- "There was no warning at all and no 30mph signs when you're coming up Gdynia Way from Plymstock."
"The only sign is when you're coming back from Plympton."
"It seems to me like they're just out to make money from people."
"It's clear from the speeds I was doing that I thought I was sticking to the speed limit. I'm not a boy-racer."”