Glasgow private hire driver who fell asleep at wheel wins bid to retain licence

A private hire driver who fell asleep at the wheel and hit a parked vehicle has been allowed to keep his licence.

Police Scotland objected to Woleed Mohamed’s bid to renew the licence, but the Glasgow’s licensing committee decided to grant the application.

An officer said the force believed the applicant was “not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire car driver’s licence.”

He told the committee how Mr Mohamed struck a vehicle on Byres Road in 2017 and was convicted in January 2019, receiving a £400 fine.

The officer said: “The applicant was driving home from his shift as a private hire car driver, he fell asleep at the wheel, his foot hit the accelerator causing him to drive the vehicle through the junction and strike a parked vehicle.”

Mr Mohamed checked the damage to the vehicle and reported the incident to police, councillors heard.

Councillor Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the licensing committee, said the applicant had previously appeared before councillors to be questioned over the incident.

He asked what circumstances led to the driver falling asleep at the wheel. In response to questions, Mr Mohamed confirmed he had been tired and that he hadn’t been involved in any similar incidents since 2017.

He also said he currently has no points on his driver’s licence.

Councillor Wilson added: “I have to say Mr Mohamed I must commend you for, not so much falling asleep at the wheel, but the fact you did strike another car and you notified Police Scotland, you didn’t drive away.

“There’s plenty of other people who may have done.”

The committee agreed to renew his licence for another three years.