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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taxi driver falling asleep on motorway

71 replies

Booboostwo · 26/02/2018 21:52

We are on holiday and we don't have our car. Yesterday we wanted to go see friends who live in a slightly out of the way village but the trains were awful (3 hours just to get there if all went well with changes and a bus rail replacement service) so we decided to hire a taxi for 9 hours - 1.5 hours drive there, then short drive to soft play/restaurant, then 1.5 hours back. In between the long drive there and back the driver had a long rest. We paid 500 pounds for the taxi which was a huge amount of money but it was very important for us to see our friends and this was the only way it would happen.

On the way there, at 11:30 in the morning, so not an odd hour, the taxi driver started to fall asleep at the wheel on the motorway. He was driving in the middle lane while the slow lane was empty which was a but odd and then I noticed his speed has dropped to 50 m/h. I was sitting at the back with the DCs but a couple of cars beeped at us when overtaking which attracted my attention. I saw the driver's eyes closing for milliseconds, so I woke up DH who was sitting at the front and also dozing, and he also saw the driver falling asleep. We got some cold air in the car and we talked to the driver the rest of the way. We then asked him to make sure he took a nap before the trip back (he had 5 hours free waiting for us).

When we got back DH texted the taxi firm letting them know but got an automated reply back, so this morning I suggested we should call the firm about it. DH was reluctant as he thought they would not care either way, but surely sending out a driver who was falling asleep at the wheel is a huge issue isn't it? I don't necessarily want the driver disciplined in any way, he seemed like a nice man, but they do need to review their procedures to ensure this doesn't happen again. I also think we are entitled to some money back, DH thinks not.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 26/02/2018 22:40

You do realise that you could have rang a taxi from your destination to pick you up from the village and take your back.
Maybe no softplay but , £500 that's just stupid.

Me264 · 26/02/2018 22:46

I got an uber a few months ago for a 50 mile-ish journey about 10am on a Sunday morning and had a similar experience, driver was clearly nodding off on the motorway. We did the same as you did and talked to him the whole way as soon as we noticed. It's very concerning, most taxi drivers are self employed though (well uber ones are anyway) so no one really regulating their hours, I suspect the one who drove us had been up all night. You should definitely speak to the taxi firm.

dadshere · 26/02/2018 22:48

There is no way on god's earth I would be getting back into that taxi again. He could have killed you all. Complain, complain and complain again. Read next month's news where a family of 4 were killed by a taxi driver nodding off on the motorway due to an undiagnosed illness. Now, step back and stop that from happening. I repeat, he NEARLY KILLED YOU.

OutyMcOutface · 26/02/2018 22:51

He seemed like a nice man? You do realise that he could have killed your children right?

Jaxhog · 26/02/2018 22:54

You need to report this to the taxi company. They need to ensure their drivers are fit to drive. No excuses. He could kill the next people he takes out.

However nice the man was, he could have killed you.

DalekDalekDalek · 26/02/2018 22:55

So the driver fell asleep at the wheel on the motorway. And then later you still got back in the car with the same driver, and your children, and did the return journey?

Why on Earth did you get back in that car with him?

happysnappysandwich · 26/02/2018 23:02

We hired an early morning taxi for an airport run last year, 5am ish. The taxi driver straight up fell asleep on the M25. Most terrifying drive of my life!

Original poster
Booboostwo · 26/02/2018 23:34

Just to try to answer some questions, although I admit I do find the focus on my idiocy in hiring a taxi to be a bit odd...

We are on holiday in the U.K.

We needed the taxi to get us to soft play as I did not want to burden my recently widowed friend with five children to cater for and look after in his home.

There were no available taxis in the village. We could have hired the taxi just to take us and come back but the waiting time was relatively cheap in terms of the cost so we thought it was worth it.

The driver had a nap which is why we got back in the taxi with him.

No I am not vindictive and I do not want him fired hence why I have not made a formal complaint. If his tiredness was due to personal issues I assume his employer has a duty of care to help him address the issues so he is fit to work. If his tiredness was due to working conditions, e.g. long shifts, I expect the firm to reconsider their procedures. That's what I had in mind would happen as a result.

OP posts:
LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 26/02/2018 23:49

Oh ffs he needs reporting it's not on! He could have killed yous and god k it's how many other innocent people!

It's his job he should not be falling asleep. Obviously working to many hours. And sorry I know it's been said but £500 FOR A FUCKING TAXI?

DalekDalekDalek · 27/02/2018 00:07

Sorry but I would have never got back in that car. You must have very little regard for your children's safety to do that.
Why didn't you call a taxi from the nearest town? Where in the U.K. could you possibly be that is so far from any other taxi company?
And then to just text the company the next day? Why didn't you phone to complain when you arrived? They could have sent another driver.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 27/02/2018 00:40

I am not too sure why you are interested in these details Dalek but it is a slow evening on MN so maybe you are relying on my thread to keep you entertained? As I explained the driver went off to sleep and we checked with him he had slept before we got back in the taxi. You are most welcome to go to the village next Sunday (I can PM you the exact location) and call for a taxi from the nearest town - I wish you the best of luck. I did not text the next day, I texted the same evening. I did not call for another driver because as above the driver went off to sleep.

OP posts:
TheQueenOfWands · 27/02/2018 07:23

Loving the victim blaming going on.

Why did you pay £500 for a taxi? Why did you make him hang around? Why not just skip soft play?

FFS. She paid for a service. Who cares why?

restofthetimes · 27/02/2018 07:26

I think 500 pounds might be a typo?
Sounds super scary anyway, and yes complain to the hire firm.

NerrSnerr · 27/02/2018 07:28

You should definitely complain. He could kill someone (or many people ) next time. I'm also surprised you got back in the car with him with your children.

I think people are jumping on the £500 thing because there are many cheaper ways of doing it- but some people are rich and have £500 to spend on taxis.

Flomy · 27/02/2018 07:30

How do you know he really slept in the 5 hour break?

5plusMeAndHim · 27/02/2018 07:37

You have no proof - it will be your word against his
He won't be disciplined because taxi drivers are self-employed

PurpleGuppy · 27/02/2018 07:41

We had a taxi driver fall asleep on the motorway taking us to the airport and we demanded and received a full refund.
You pay for a driver to take the stress out of it not put your life in danger.

hazell42 · 27/02/2018 07:45

Here is what's going to happen when you complain:

You: He nearly fell asleep at the wheel
Him: No I bloody didn't
Them: Well, just be careful

Next time you see your taxi driver falling asleep at the wheel, demand that he pull over there and then and let you out. Fresh air and talking ain't enough. These micro-sleeps are incredibly dangerous. He could have killed someone. And you knew and let him continue driving because you wanted to meet your friends. That makes you morally liable too

UrsulaPandress · 27/02/2018 08:03

£500!!!!

Yes I would report the falling asleep.

You must be in the middle of nowhere, but with a soft play centre.

beepthemeep · 27/02/2018 08:08

The trial of the two truck drivers whose driving killed and injured a family visiting from India is going on in the reading county court as we speak. One of the drivers had parked fallen asleep in the slow lane. 7 people died and several more were horribly injured and bereaved because he got behind the wheel and drove when he was over tired (and apparently had been drinking too) and then because a second driver wasn't paying attention. It's unbelievably dangerous.

You should have taken photographs to report him, but if you didn't, I would still be reporting him anyway. He needs the shock.

beepthemeep · 27/02/2018 08:09

Gah, criminal not county court!

FluffyWuffy100 · 27/02/2018 08:11

I booked a taxi for a 4am run to the airport a few years ago.

The driver fell asleep at the wheel and and ran a red light and again in the M Way and swerved.

Then just before the airport turn off, like literally just after you see the sign saying Gatwick next exit, he pulled into a garage and disappeared for 20 mins without telling me WTF was going on.

I complained to TFL who license minicabs in London, and also to the Taxi firm. Who didn’t give a shit.
tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-taxi-and-private-hire

On reflection I should have got out when he ran the red might but at 4am-ish in my own with a lot of luggage in some unknown bit of London (pre uber) I didn’t really fancy my chances at getting another taxi.

schrodingerstwat · 27/02/2018 08:16

@Mawalls

You're calling the OP vindictive??? Even after reading replies from posters whose kids and friends have been injured and killed because of sleepy drivers??

There is something seriously, seriously wrong with you.

italiancortado · 27/02/2018 08:16

If his tiredness was due to personal issues I assume his employer has a duty of care to help him address the issues so he is fit to work. If his tiredness was due to working conditions, e.g. long shifts, I expect the firm to reconsider their procedures.

The taxi driver will be self employed. His company will simply be where he hires a 'radio' (I say radio but a lot of firms use an app these days) there is no employer and no duty of care. The firm won't have any procedures to reconsider. The driver will log on and off if and when he chooses. There is NO regulation.

I feel your complaint will get you nowhere, as pp's he will deny it, that will be the end of the matter. Also the time you paid him for he likely went back to area and earned a few more fares.

I'm not sure why anyone would continue and journey, let alone do a return, when the driver was falling asleep!

LimonViola · 27/02/2018 08:19

Taxi drivers don't really have employers with much control over them tbh, they are often with a certain company to get the work through but then set their own hours. So I don't think reporting it is gonna do much good. It's your word against his and he will deny.

Why didn't you actually raise it with him at the time?

Do you have the driver's number? As if so I would bypass his 'employer' completely, and message him directly. Something like

"Hi, thanks for the work you did for us over the weekend. I'm not sure if you realised but at one point on Saturday around 11am you started to fall asleep driving. It made us nervous and worry for our safety. I wanted to let you know so that you're aware and can do whatever you need to so it's less likely to happen in the future"

Then you've brought it to his attention, if he didn't realise he does now and it's down to him to make changes or not. But it achieves more than contacting the cab company, who'll probably just say 'why didn't you tell him?' And assume you're looking for your money back, and believe their employee.