The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) has issued a warning to its members following the emergence of footage showing a cyclist confronting a black cab driver in central London and allegedly demanding cash in exchange for not reporting him for using a mobile phone while driving.

In the video, which was published to social media by the LTDA, the cyclist approaches the taxi and accuses the driver of committing an offence. The driver replies that he was completing a card transaction using a mounted device and was not breaking the law. The phone appears to be held in a fixed cradle.

The situation escalates as the cyclist responds: “So, how do we come to a solution, a conclusion? Shall I just take you to court? Just give me a tenner and I’ll just let you be.” He then offers to delete the footage on the spot if the driver pays up.

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According to UK traffic law, holding a mobile phone while driving — including while stationary in traffic — is prohibited. However, the law allows for contactless payments in a vehicle that is not moving, and the use of hands-free devices such as phones mounted to the dashboard or windscreen. Touching a mounted phone, for example to confirm a card payment, is not an offence in itself.

Posting the video online, the LTDA captioned it: “This is yet another scam! The law permits touching a phone screen whilst the phone is in a fixed cradle in exactly the same way it is lawful to touch a fixed screen in a TXE or any other modern car! Tell the scammers to go forth and multiply!”

The organisation has advised drivers to remain calm if confronted in a similar way, and to avoid being drawn into discussion. Drivers are encouraged to keep dashcam footage, report such incidents to police, and contact their representative body.

Cycling lawyer at Leigh Day Cycling, Rory McCarron, replied under the post: “What ever your thoughts, blackmail is not okay,” while others described it as “straightforward blackmail”, committing a criminal himself themselves.

However, one person wrote: “Massive oversimplification of the law from the LTDA. If you are distracted in any way by using a phone in a cradle you can still be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving. Far safer (and more sensible) not to touch your phone at all if you want to keep your green badge.”

Driver threatens BigHaytch in Birmingham
Driver threatens BigHaytch in Birmingham (Image Credit: @bighaytch1)

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While this video has drawn concern among taxi representatives, it also comes amid a wider public debate about the role of cyclists using cameras to report road traffic offences. Mike van Erp, known online as CyclingMikey, is one of the best-known figures in this area, having submitted thousands of clips to police, resulting in fines, penalty points, and prosecutions. He has consistently stated that cyclists capturing offences on video are acting as witnesses, not vigilantes.

Recent police data has shown an increase in third-party reporting and the relatively high rates of action taken by the force. In the past year, West Yorkshire Police received 3,500 submissions of driver offences reported by cyclists, with action taken in 71 per cent of cases. Avon and Somerset Police recorded 8,595 cyclist-submitted videos in 2024, resulting in more than 2,500 notices of intended prosecution.

The use of such footage has attracted both public support and media scrutiny. In October, the BBC faced criticism after referring to van Erp and another campaigner, Tim on Two Wheels, as “vigilantes” in a segment covering third-party reporting. The broadcaster later amended its article and acknowledged the label was inappropriate.

Both van Erp and Tim have maintained that cyclists submitting footage to the police are not acting outside the law but are instead helping to enforce it. “There is no war between motorists and cyclists,” van Erp said, describing that framing as a distraction. Tim added that most drivers “just want to get home safely” and that the small minority who endanger others tend to behave aggressively not just towards cyclists, but other drivers as well.

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Figures from West Midlands Police show that 97 per cent of cyclist-submitted reports received in January 2024 led to some form of enforcement action. In total, the force saw third-party submissions rise from just over 200 in 2017 to 11,000 last year. Avon and Somerset Police, meanwhile, recorded 8,595 video submissions from cyclists in 2024 alone, resulting in more than 2,500 notices of intended prosecution.

A recent incident from Birmingham has also shown how camera cyclists are popping up all over the country. Last week, we reported that a cyclist had begun filming drivers allegedly using phones and confronting them on camera. In some cases, those encounters became heated, with at least one driver threatening violence. Reactions to the videos were mixed, with some questioning the approach, while others said more accountability for illegal driving was welcome.