TAXI drivers have vowed to stay behind the wheel despite figures revealing they are among those most likely to die from coronavirus.

The shocking figures from the Office of National Statistics, revealed that male taxi drivers and chauffeurs are the second highest risk occupations for catching the deadly virus.

Halstead Gazette:

But Stephen Noakes, manager at AC Radio Cabs in Southend, said they provide an important service for the community.

He said: “We are very concerned about the safety of our customers and our drivers during the Covid-19 outbreak but we need to still provide a service as a lot of people rely on us, from the elderly going to get their shopping, to the hero doctors and nurses who don’t drive and need to get to work, so we will keep going.

“We have encouraged any of our drivers, especially the vulnerable, to not come out and work, to stay at home and stay safe.

“The volunteers still out there working know they are putting their lives at risk but will continue to do so.

“A taxi is still the safest form of public transport as you are only near one person rather than multiple, reducing your exposure.”

The figures revealed that taxi drivers had a higher death rate of 36.4 deaths per 100,000 males, equating to 76 deaths, which was higher than bus and coach drivers at 26.4 deaths per 100,000 males.

The figures are based on an analysis of the 2,494 registered deaths involving coronavirus among workers aged 20 to 64 in England and Wales up to and including April 20.

Mr Noakes added: “As a company we have taken as many precautions as we can to make sure our drivers and customers are always as safe as possible.

“We have a contactless temperature reader in our call centre to test drivers and staff if we need to. This week we have introduced a package which is available for all our drivers which includes masks, gloves and hand sanitiser.

“On top of this ACs is working hard to find a way to fit plastic partitions into our saloon-type cars similar to those fitted into our larger multi-seaters.

“We would ask our customers when getting a taxi please don’t be offended if the driver asks you to sit in the back of the cab and if more than three of you are getting a taxi please tell your chosen taxi firm this when you make your booking.”

Unions across the country, including Unite, are calling on a public inquiry to understand how and why low paid workers appear to be at most risk of dying from Covid-19.

Mark Waller, chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association, added: “There is a very low percentage of drivers out and about. We have had good co-operation from Basildon’s licensing department and are looking at it on a day-to-day basis.

“The most vulnerable drivers would be those with saloon cars as they don’t have any partitioning like mini buses.

“It’s not going to go away overnight, following the Prime Minister’s latest announcement we have to wait and see what happens and whether the virus will slow down.”