Chauffeur and Passenger Safety
A chauffeur was assaulted and injured as two men, in their twenties, carjacked his Mercedes S-Class vehicle last month. The hapless victim was working at Heathrow Airport for a local limo hire company when the attack occurred.
One of the men struck a blow to the rear of the vehicle. The chauffeur, who was just about to leave to pick up a passenger from the airport, got out to investigate. As he was dealing with the man, who had struck the rear of the vehicle, a second man jumped into the driver’s seat and started to drive the vehicle away.
As the chauffeur attempted to stop him, he was dragged by the moving vehicle for some distance before losing his grip and suffering minor injuries. The dedicated chauffer was treated in hospital and is currently unable to work, due to his injuries. The stolen Mercedes limousine was later involved in a police chase. It was subsequently recovered after it had been crashed into a brick wall in West London. The carjacking was witnessed by members of the public.
This vicious attack and the carjacking of the vehicle happened only days after The GMB Professional Drivers Branch voiced their concern over the increasing violence being meted out by the public to professional drivers. They claim that immediate action must be taken as a result of the severe risks to life and limb that their members, who drive hire cars and mini cabs, face on a daily basis. GMB wants to see coordinated action by everybody involved in the industry to minimise and eliminate the avoidable risks to which their members are exposed. They want to have CCTV installed in passenger vehicles and in the locations where the cars wait for passengers.
Crime is an unfortunate statistic of modern society. Limousine hire companies are aware that passenger safety is a top priority. Be assured that when you hire a limo for an airport transfer or for that matter any other function, your limousine chauffer is a true professional whose dedication to the job encompasses your well being.
