Concerns about public safeguarding and “the thicket of bureaucracy” facing new drivers as they attempt to navigate licencing regulations have been raised by the Thanet Private Hire Association.
Isle of Thanet News reports that issues were initially raised in a meeting with South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay and have now been highlighted with Thanet council once more ahead of a meeting to discuss possible changes to the knowledge test taken by drivers.
The TPHA wants to streamline the process of licensing new drivers with Thanet council because of a shortage of private hire drivers since the covid pandemic with most companies operating with just half the number of drivers they had three years ago.
“A drop of over 50% of both licensed vehicles and drivers”
Chairman Andy Doody, on behalf of TPHA, said: “The Covid pandemic and lockdown periods resulted in a drop of over 50% of both licensed vehicles and drivers. This has led to widespread complaints from the public to the firms as well as negative reports across press and social media platforms.
“All of the private hire operators, firms and the staff are and have been under pressure to cover work or to even take bookings.
“This has resulted in abuse to staff and in turn to drivers. This has affected the general public attempting to go about their daily lives, employees getting to their jobs, care workers and essential members of the NHS and the emergency services being unable to get to their places of work on time or home in a timely, safely manner.
“The school transport system, not just from the taxi services point of view but from parents and KCC tender’s department, is seriously affected too, leaving schools, children, and their parents/guardians very frustrated.
“There has been an enormously negative push back from the hospitality sector including hoteliers, publicans, restaurateurs, entertainment venues and concerned parents, youngsters and vulnerable members of the public wanting to get to and from home safely. This is especially at weekends and nights as this has historically been the busiest times.
“Since not only the pandemic and the problems that brought to us all but also since changes that were implemented by the licensing department, the numbers of drivers either new to the trade or renewing, has fallen at an unsustainable rate with the result being the continuing and frustratingly difficult communication from all the operators with the licensing department to find a solution.”
Safeguarding concerns:
Mr Doody says there are concerns that drivers’ badges no longer include the name of the operator they work for, something he says could represent safeguarding dangers.
He said: “The council has started renewing drivers badges with no company that they work for named on them.
“Previously if there was a problem licensing knew where the driver was registered to work from. Now they’ll have no clue if there’s an emergency, accident or God forbid worse. They didn’t formally notify operators they were doing this.
“It’s an absolute recipe for disaster. My wife, daughters or friends could be picked up by a driver that’s ‘working’ for the taxi company I call so I know who to get in touch with if there’s a problem but drivers will be able to swap companies and (for instance) cover school runs for anyone that asks.
“I’ve asked on behalf of the Thanet Private Hire Association repeatedly over the last two plus years that licensed drivers and their cars must be clearly identifiable and that the licensing department should know what company every driver is registered to be at and regularly check with the various companies that they’re records are right but now they rely on the drivers to notify them.
“In mine and the operators -Thanet Cars, Thanet Taxis, Central Cars and United Cars – opinions this is utter madness and totally unsafe for the public.”
Knowledge test:
The TPHA say things like the knowledge test are “outdated and unnecessary” due to all companies and drivers have modern despatch systems and satellite navigation built into the drivers equipment which give directions to the pick-up point and customer information and the correct prices.
One of the solutions proposed is to have one practical test with a licensing officer or external locally licensed testers to check driving aptitude, English language, basic maths, highway code knowledge and a visual check of the vehicle.
Mr Doody said: “This would streamline the at present multi-step process solving many parts of the application in one appointment, just leaving the safeguarding, medical, tax, and DBS checks to be carried out beforehand. This type of process has been implemented in many other areas nationwide and led to the private hire and hackney services getting back to a healthy level for the needs of the community and creating a much-needed increase in revenue for the councils.”
He said a report published for the licensing meeting next week looks to “weigh in favour” of the TPHA requests although it doesn’t cover the safeguarding concerns.
Robust checks:
Thanet council says there are robust checks in place to protect passenger safety and that most drivers are self-employed, so may work for more than one operator. The council adds that knowledge tests are necessary for tourism.
A spokesperson said: “We have a robust process in place to manage the accreditation of taxi drivers in our district. This is to protect the welfare of our residents.
“Most private hire drivers are self-employed and may work for one or more operators. We have removed the need for the operator name to be included on the badges that we issue. This means that drivers will no longer have to pay for the issue of a new badge if they change operators, and this is in line with the majority of other councils.
“Badges do show the driver’s name, a picture and their badge number however, and we ask drivers which operator they are going to work for and retain that information on our files.
“The knowledge test is held every fortnight, typically with up to 20 candidates, who are booked on to the next available test should they need to resit. DBS clearance can be applied for prior to taking the test and this is stated on our website.
“The knowledge test ensures that taxi drivers can give customers information about the local area, including places of interest and local attractions. This is an important part of our offer as a tourist destination.
“Ensuring that our residents are safe is a key council priority, and safeguarding is an important part of this. We have a duty to protect all of our residents and visitors.”
The content and cost of sitting the knowledge test will be discussed at a meeting of the Licensing Board on Tuesday 21 March.
Plans to hike taxi fares in Inverclyde by 12 per cent have been backed by councillors.
The Greenock Telegraph reports that members of the local authority's General Purposes Board have approved taxi trade proposals to increase 'flag fall' fees and running mile rates.
The council has now launched a further statutory consultation on the rates, with the new tariffs expected to take effect from May 14 this year.
Councillor Chris Curley, who chaired the meeting, stated that he hoped the decision would help the local taxi trade through a difficult time.
He said: "The committee reviewed the submission by the taxi operators and individual operators and, looking at that, decided to approve the recommendations.
"The general increases in costs for the trade were considered as part of our decision-making.
"We want to see a sustainable taxi industry locally and hope that this decision helps achieve that."
The proposed changes affect all four of the area's taxi tariffs - which outline standard rates for pre-hired and 'flag' bookings over set periods.
Hirings from ranks or 'flag' hirings between 6am and 11pm will now have an initial charge of £3.08, up from £2.75, with the first mile of the journey costing approximately £4.13.
For the same types of hirings started between 11pm and 6am, a initial charge of £3.19 will apply, with the approximate cost of the first mile rising by 50 pence to £4.59.
Certain types of hirings on Easter Monday, May Day, Fair Saturday and September 26 will carry an initial fee of £3.42.
Pre-booked hirings and those from ranks or 'flag' hirings on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and January 2 will have an initial cost of £5.99, which is also the first mile cost for such bookings.
The board's decision came after a consultation Inverclyde Council held with local taxi operators, which saw eight of the consultees call for an increase in rates.
A ninth respondent said they felt a significant rise would not be appropriate given the rising cost of living.
Many of those consulted raised concerns about the increases cost of fuel and maintenance to their vehicle, with reference also made to the cost of living crisis and spiralling inflation.
In a letter sent to Inverclyde Council, local operator Inverclyde Taxis said that the last three years had been 'extremely challenging' for the taxi trade.
They cited a number of factors which had put the industry in an increasingly difficult position, including what was described as 'limited' financial support from the Scottish Government.
They added: "Likewise, Inverclyde Council continues to offer limited or no administrative support/guidance to the trade yet endorse year-on-year taxi and test fees increases without any consultation/notice nor indeed consideration to extended fee packages to secure trade commitment for the medium to longer term.
"It would appear decisions are for here and now and only looking short term."
The council will now ask for views on the proposed new scales, with local people able to have their say by writing to the council before April 7.
A private hire driver who continued to pick up passengers despite being suspended over a filthy car has been handed a four-week ban.
According to the Glasgow Evening Times, Usman Shoukat was pulled over in December last year as he had failed to display required signs in his rear windows and his car was “filthy”.
He was given a suspension and told he couldn’t operate until the problems had been fixed, but he was spotted carrying passengers by police later that night.
Mr Shoukat claimed there had been a misunderstanding and he didn’t realise he had been suspended.
On 15 March councillors on the city’s licensing committee handed him a four-week suspension.
Councillor Alex Wilson, who chairs the committee, said the driver had been “putting the public at risk” as once he was suspended his insurance was invalid.
He added: “When someone says to you you’re suspended, that means you do not do anything else, you don’t pick up other passengers.
“You said in your statement you were shaking due to being approached by police, but you still carried on. If you were that badly shaken, surely you wouldn’t have carried on driving.”
Mr Shoukat was pulled over during a joint initiative between the council’s taxi and private hire enforcement unit and Police Scotland, after he was seen with “no rear signage displayed".
An enforcement officer told councillors how the sign was found lying in the back of the car, which was “filthy".
He was suspended and “instructed he couldn’t operate until the vehicle was presented back to officers with the defects rectified".
However, later that night Police Scotland witnessed Mr Shoukat carrying passengers while suspended, the committee heard. Councillors were told the driver had taken two jobs since the suspension was issued.
Councillor Wilson told the driver the incident had been a “catalogue of errors on your behalf.”
Mr Shoukat said he works for two private hire firms and usually switches between their signs. He said he “wasn’t aware” his plates had been removed by enforcement officers as he was inside the vehicle.
The driver also said he had passengers in the car when he was stopped, so continued to drop them off.
However, councillor Wilson said he had picked up more passengers after that journey.
Mr Shoukat claimed there had been a “mix-up".
He said: “If I had known I was suspended, I would have stopped straight away.”
He said he hadn’t read paperwork that was handed to him by the officers.
Councillor Wilson said: “Our enforcement team would have said to you ‘we’re suspending your licence’. They would have told you that.
“You are just making this worse and worse for yourself. You are showing us that you are not a responsible person to be driving around Glasgow.
“There’s nothing to say you cannot work for multiple platforms, but you must have signage showing.”
The driver asked to be let off with a warning as he had never been before the committee before and promised it wouldn’t happen again. However, councillors decided to issue the four-week suspension with immediate effect.
A taxi driver attempted to drive between two trams before causing a crash in Nottingham city centre.
The motorist could not see the approaching tram in the other direction and attempted to drive between the two trams vehicles at the Lace Market on December 10 last year.
The incident, which features in NET Tram documents submitted to Nottingham City Council, resulted in significant damage to the car and some to the tram.
All services were delayed while details were exchanged and injuries were checked.
NET said there was a slight increase in the number of road traffic collisions in December, particularly in the Radford Road and Lace Market areas.
NET said a review of its safety measures is being undertaken.
Source: https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/nottingham-taxi-driver-tried-squeeze-8234232
A Glasgow company that makes wheelchair accessible cars, minibuses and taxis is to take on more than 70 people under ambitious plans to ramp up production as it looks to overcome “horrendous” supply issues.
The Scotsman reports that Allied Vehicles, which was established almost 30 years ago in the city’s Possilpark area, is looking to produce more than 7,500 vehicles per year and take on workers as it prepares to make inroads into the European market.
The firm said the additional staff would work in its pre-production and production areas after two years of a “post-Covid famine”, exacerbated by global vehicle supply problems and the conflict in Ukraine. Allied Vehicles converts a variety of vehicles to make them suitable for wheelchair users, both passengers and drivers.
Operations director George McAdam described recent supply problems as “horrendous”. He said: “We have seen times where we had no cars whatsoever to build and we’ve also seen times where we were maximising the people we have and actually going out and recruiting.
"The fact is that Allied and the Facenna family have supported and retained all of the people that we had, knowing that it’s paramount that we have those skill sets, that we look after the staff that have been very loyal to us over the years and we’ve managed to do that.”
He noted that during the slump, up to 100 staff who had no cars to work on had undertaken other project tasks, including painting and generally tidying up the Hawthorn Street site.
“We are now seeing some light at the end of the tunnel,” added McAdam. “We’re now getting more positive vibes from our suppliers - Peugeot, Volkswagen, Ford and Citroen - and we’re now seeing vehicles starting to flow in.
"The plans we have put in place will bring an additional 78 people into the business, and what that does is it allows us over the next nine to 12 months to expand our market share.”
The ramp-up in production has also involved the creation of a revamped infrastructure at the business, including a new £400,000 laser to boost capacity. Processes have been streamlined, and workshop layouts altered to achieve the new targets.
The firm has also invested “significantly” in training, with more in prospect for the new workers.
Peter Facenna, the company’s managing director, said expanding into the European market was a key priority for the business. “We've now successfully built a network of distribution partners across most European countries, and we're looking forward to increasing production here in Glasgow in order to meet the needs of disabled people - not only in the UK, but across Europe,” he added.
“Most people will probably think we only make things here for Glasgow and Scotland, but we make them for all of the UK and, now, most of Western Europe.”
McAdam added: “It’s a large project plan with lots of moving pieces to get there, but we have it within our grasp now and our control to take it forward.
"I have no doubt there’ll be some other bumps along the road as we go through this [but] compared to where it was, the future’s looking absolutely amazing.”
A former paratrooper turned pet taxi driver is in the running for an Animal Star Award for his work in Wakefield and Pontefract.
Tariq Rehman, 75, from Stechford, had his licence removed by Solihull Council in November last year following a complaint from a passenger.
A taxi firm boss has branded the criminal justice system "broken" after new figures revealed almost a third of offenders in the town reoffended within a year.
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.