New initiative will ensure Leeds students get home safely if they can't afford taxi fare

A taxi firm has joined forces with two Yorkshire universities to launch an initiative which aims to ensure all students get home safely, even if they can't afford the taxi fare.
(Left to right) Barbara Pereira, Leeds Beckett University union affairs officer, Amber Cars' driver partner Jose Paiva and Chris Neary, regional director. Amber Cars(Left to right) Barbara Pereira, Leeds Beckett University union affairs officer, Amber Cars' driver partner Jose Paiva and Chris Neary, regional director. Amber Cars
(Left to right) Barbara Pereira, Leeds Beckett University union affairs officer, Amber Cars' driver partner Jose Paiva and Chris Neary, regional director. Amber Cars

Amber Cars has pledged to support university students throughout the academic year with its Safe Taxi Scheme.

Working in collaboration with the students’ unions at both Leeds University and Leeds Beckett University, the Safe Taxi Scheme ensures that all students can get a lift home after a night out, even if they don’t have any money for the fare on them.

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The taxi firm, part of the Veezu Group, was also one of the first transport companies to introduce additional measures this year to make journeys as safe as possible for both passengers and driver-partners.

The measures, designed to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, include specialist cleaning regimes, in-vehicle protective screens, the wearing of face coverings and passengers sitting in the rear of the vehicle.

During the hours of darkness, seven days a week, students from the participating universities can book a taxi journey by quoting either ‘Leeds University Safe Taxi Scheme’ or ‘Leeds Beckett University Safe Taxi Scheme".

If they have a valid student card as proof of ID, a vehicle will be sent to stranded students as a matter of priority.

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The student must settle their fee with the Students’ Union within 72 hours. Members of each students' union are fully trained to offer support and advice about the service and take payment.

Chris Neary, Regional Director of Amber Cars, said: “Moving to a new area and starting university can be daunting, even more so for freshers this year who are beginning their higher education experience in unusual circumstances.

“We are here as students in Leeds find their feet; our emergency service will ensure they get home safe without worry over finding the fare. Our precautionary measures against Covid-19 will also provide students with peace of mind that their journey will be as safe as possible.”

Amber Cars is one of West Yorkshire’s largest taxi companies with more than 1,200 driver partners operating in the area.

Amber Cars is owned by Veezu, which is the UK’s fastest growing taxi and private hire business.

Veezu was founded in 2013 and the group last year completed more than 18 million private hire journeys.

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