Incident leaves driver traumatised and questioning future in trade
A Bradford private-hire driver has shared harrowing dashcam footage of the moment a rock smashed through his side window while he was carrying a passenger shortly after midnight, an attack he believes was deliberate and may have been set up to force him to stop.
The driver, Aftab Shah, was travelling from the Bradford Interchange along Halifax Road at about 12:30am on Monday 27 July when the object struck his vehicle. Mr Shah said the rock narrowly missed his neck and left him shaken.
"Honestly, I got the shock of my life... The rock missed me by maybe a couple of inches."
Mr Shah told the Telegraph and Argus he had seen what he described as a fluorescent pipe or a similar object placed in the middle of the road shortly before the impact. He suspects that was used to slow or divert him so the projectile could be thrown.
Adding to his distress, Mr Shah has previously survived a near-fatal assault in Woodhouse two decades ago in which his throat was slashed. He said he had only recently returned to night-shift work and was doing this shift as an exception when the incident occurred.
Delay in police arrival and ongoing concerns
After the rock shattered the window, Mr Shah kept driving a short distance before pulling over to contact the police. He described a tense wait of about 30 minutes for officers to arrive, during which he remained inside his car because he feared a repeat attack.
"I’m sat in the car looking all around me thinking, 'Is somebody else going to come and get me?'"
West Yorkshire Police have confirmed they received a report concerning the incident. The dashcam footage published by Mr Shah has renewed concerns about the safety of drivers working in the trade, particularly late at night.
Risks faced by night-time private-hire drivers in Bradford
The footage and Mr Shah’s account highlight vulnerabilities that private-hire drivers face when operating at night, including:
- Deliberate attempts to force vehicles to stop on quiet roads;
- Objects placed in the carriageway to cause drivers to slow or swerve;
- prolonged periods alone while awaiting assistance after an incident.
Mr Shah said the attack has prompted him to question whether he should continue working as a driver. He told reporters that the combination of this new incident and his earlier life-threatening assault has made him feel especially vulnerable.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date and time | Shortly after 12:30am, Monday 27 July |
| Location | Halifax Road, travelling from Bradford Interchange |
| Nature of incident | Rock thrown through side window; near miss to driver's neck |
| Police response | Report received by West Yorkshire Police |
| Driver wait for officers | Approximately 30 minutes |
The account has been circulated locally through the press and social media since Mr Shah released the dashcam material to highlight the dangers faced by drivers. It has prompted public discussion about safety measures for private-hire and taxi drivers who work late shifts in Bradford.
At this stage there is no public record of arrests linked to the incident. West Yorkshire Police’s confirmation that a report was received indicates the force is aware and, as standard, may be making enquiries.
For many drivers, long solitary hours and the necessity of stopping in isolated locations are accepted occupational hazards. Mr Shah’s experience illustrates how a single incident can reopen past trauma and create doubt about continuing in the trade. His decision to go public with the footage demonstrates a desire to warn colleagues and to press for attention to safety on Bradford’s streets.
Local authorities, trade groups and the police often recommend practical steps such as keeping doors locked after an incident, driving to well-lit or populated areas before stopping, and reporting suspicious objects on the carriageway immediately. Whether those measures will be enough to reassure Mr Shah and others working nights in Bradford remains to be seen.
