A taxi driver accused a private hire driver of going to kill passengers during a road rage incident in the city centre.

But private hire driver Saleem Dean claimed the taxi driver was being racist towards him in a heated exchange over his driving.

The black taxi driver lodged a complaint about Mr Dean accusing him of erratic driving and cutting across lanes – and claiming it was necessary to brake to avoid a collision.

The pair were driving in Hope Street when the argument began it is understood.

The taxi driver reacted to Mr Dean’s driving while a section of the street was cordoned off for road works in April, a meeting heard.

The row continued into West George Street and the taxi driver pulled alongside Mr Dean asking what he was playing at. He said Mr Dean used bad language.

It culminated with the taxi driver getting out of his vehicle when Mr Dean pulled over.

Mr Dean appeared in front of the city’s licensing and regulatory committee yesterday over the complaint that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

He told councillors the complainant called him a ‘d**k’ and pulled in front of him when he dropped passengers at Queen Street station.

He said the taxi driver called him a “killer” and a “pig”

He added: “I think he had a bad day.”

Committee chair councillor Alex Wilson, SNP, said the taxi driver had accused Mr Dean of “erratic driving” and “zipping about all over the place.”

Mr Dean explained he had moved lanes at a slow speed.

Explaining more about the other driver’s behaviour, Mr Dean added “He said to my passengers: ‘He is going to kill you.'”

Mr Dean said: “I asked what his problem was and if he was a racist.”

Councillor Wilson said people should not face that type of provocation based on their religion and being a Muslim.

The committee decided that no action would be taken against Mr Dean based on the complaint to the council’s taxi and private hire enforcement unit.