According to an official statement from North Lincolnshire Council, a Scunthorpe taxi driver has lost his licence after a court backed the council’s decision to revoke it following serious safety breaches. The driver was filmed speeding while watching video content on a mobile device during journeys, evidence which was later used during licensing proceedings and upheld by magistrates. The council said the behaviour showed the driver was no longer a fit and proper person to hold a taxi licence.
DM News Commentary
This case sends a very clear warning to taxi and private hire drivers across the UK: mobile phone misuse behind the wheel will not be tolerated, especially when passengers are on board.
While many drivers lawfully use mounted phones for sat-nav, this incident crossed a hard line. Watching videos while driving — combined with speeding — is viewed by councils as deliberate and dangerous behaviour, not a momentary lapse. Crucially, this shows that a licence can be revoked even without a crash or injury. Clear video evidence alone is now enough.
What will worry many drivers is how strongly the court supported the council’s position. Once a licensing authority decides a driver is no longer “fit and proper”, appeals are increasingly difficult to win. Councils are under pressure to demonstrate public safety first — and cases like this give them legal confidence to act firmly.
For drivers, the lessons are blunt but vital:
- Sat-nav only — no video, no social media, no distractions
- Speeding plus phone use will almost always be treated as an aggravated offence
- Passenger recordings, dashcams and CCTV mean behaviour inside vehicles is rarely private
With licensing standards tightening nationwide, one reckless decision can end a driving career overnight.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, story, or anything you’d like to say, head over to DriverMatty.com — I’d love to hear from you! And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
