Newcastle taxi driver Lamin Saho has been named 'North East Taxi Hero' by UK taxi insurance company Acorn Insurance and has been nominated for a national award after helping a vulnerable passenger who feared returning home.
Night-time encounter with a distressed passenger
Lamin, who has been a taxi driver for ten years, was working during the night when a female passenger got into his taxi to be taken to a home where she did not feel safe. With no charge on her phone and no way to contact others, Lamin charged the lady's phone and encouraged her to contact her teenage son.
Once they were back in touch and her son was on his way home, the woman eventually felt safe enough to return to the property. Concerned for the passenger's welfare, Lamin also contacted the emergency services to report what had happened.
Recognition and nomination
"As a taxi driver, you meet all sorts of people, and sometimes you realise that someone needs a bit more than just a lift from one place to another," said Lamin.
Lamin added: "I've always tried to make people feel comfortable and safe in my taxi, and on that particular night I just wanted to make sure my passenger was safe and away from harm's way. I never expected any recognition for it, so this award means a great deal."
As well as his actions that night, nominators also highlighted Lamin's everyday approach to passengers, making an effort to create a welcoming and reassuring environment where people feel comfortable talking about their lives and concerns.
National award details
After being named the North East regional winner of the Acorn Taxi Hero Award, Lamin will be competing against over 1,700 nominees for the national award, which celebrates the unsung heroes of Britain's taxi industry. The winners were selected by a judging panel drawn from the taxi and insurance sectors.
Lamin will receive a £100 Amazon gift card and is in the running for the national title, with the overall winner set to receive a £1,000 Amazon gift card and the inaugural Britain's Taxi Hero trophy.
"It's wonderful to see the work taxi drivers do being celebrated, and I'm looking forward to finding out who will be crowned Britain's Taxi Hero," said Lamin.
Ash Coakley, Head of Taxi Insurance at Acorn Group, said: "Taxi drivers encounter people from every walk of life, often at moments when a little kindness, understanding or reassurance can make an enormous difference. Lamin's story is particularly moving.
"Faced with a passenger in genuine distress, he recognised that she needed more than a journey home. He showed patience, compassion and real concern for her safety, taking the time to help her through a very difficult situation.
"It's an extraordinary example of how taxi drivers look out for the people in their communities, often without expecting anything in return. Lamin is a hugely deserving of the award, and we're delighted to recognise what he did."
The national winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
