Message from Bristol Taxicop PC Patrick Quinto: "On Friday night I worked with the DVSA and Licensing Officers from Bristol and South Gloucestershire Council checking taxis and private hire vehicles at Rupert Street in Bristol city centre
"We stopped and checked an amazing 92 vehicles.
"The compliance rates were much better this time - four immediate prohibitions/suspensions given and a number of notices for minor issues such as plates, badges and lights.
"If you were stopped, thank you for your patience and co-operation."
David Lawrie, Director of NPHTA said, "Shame on those four, but well done to the trade for such a good overall result.
"This just shows that when the number stopped is large enough, the actual results are far more reflective of the care that our members take of their vehicles.
"Great work Taxicop PC Patrick Quinton, Licensing, and DVSA for such a good exercise carried out.
"Other authorities should follow suit and make sure the enforcement exercises are a true reflection, it is no good only stopping four vehicles and then claiming a 50% failure rate...."
Wiltshire Council is set to buy up more taxis to take children with special educational needs to schools.
Planet Radio reports that the authority has reportedly been suffering a shortage of vehicles to transport SEND pupils since November last year.
Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Unfortunately there are currently insufficient taxi drivers to meet all of our SEND home-to-school transport commitments.
“To address this, we are providing additional vehicles and employing drivers directly to operate them.
“This will enable us to provide our statutory duty to provide free home-to-school transport for those who are entitled.”
Head of Passenger Transport, Jason Salter, was recorded in the minutes of a meeting of Wiltshire Council in December as saying: “There were currently 5-6 students without transport to education settings due to a lack of drivers/licensed vehicles.
“There were also a number of parents receiving a rate of pay to transport their own children to school that are entitled to free transport.”
Wiltshire Council has been looking at alternative options, such as buying larger vehicles to carry more passengers and reduce the need for smaller taxis.
On December 5 the now-former cabinet member for transport Cllr Dr Mark McClelland said in a statement: “We have had to put temporary arrangements in place such as doubling up on runs, reduced pupil timetables or paying parents to take them.
“In Wiltshire, there was a shortage of taxi drivers to fulfil our SEND school contracts before Covid.
“The pandemic hit the taxi industry very hard, and all local authorities have seen reducing driver numbers due to drivers switching to doing other driving and delivery jobs.”
A recruitment campaign has been held alongside local taxi firms to try and boost numbers.
Source: https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/salisbury/news/wiltshire-council-send-taxis/
A drive to encourage more women in Wolverhampton to become taxi drivers has been launched by a councillor, after figures revealed that 97 per cent of the 20,000 working in the city were men.
According to the Express and Star, Councillor Wendy Dalton called for a campaign to recruit more women into the trade at a meeting of the council’s regulatory committee on Wednesday 8 March, which was also International Women’s Day.
She told members that she felt having more women taxi drivers would bring about “a greater assurance” for all passengers.
“Statistics for taxi driver numbers in Wolverhampton show us that 97 per cent of them are men,” she said.
“Speaking as a woman, I’d like to see more women taxi drivers as I think this would give all of us more assurance when taking a taxi somewhere, particularly if someone is travelling alone.
“What campaign could this council put forward to have an equality and a balance of more women in the profession? This issue is very relevant, especially as this week is International Women’s Week.”
Greg Bickerdike, the council’s licensing manager, said: “The initiative of working with women is something we are aware of and we are looking at how we can support this and encourage more women into the trade.
"We do have women who are in this profession, so it will involve speaking to them and understanding the benefits that a career as a licensed driver can provide them with – particularly around flexibility.
“And then the next step would be using that information to promote it to other women who may be fancy a career change, or women who are out of work, in order for us to get more female drivers licensed with us.
"That is something we are aware of and are working on, so I will be reporting back on it.”
Councillor Dalton said she would look forward to seeing a campaign for more women taxi drivers being implemented in the city.
The regulatory committee also approved the purchase of personal safety alarms for all vehicles licensed as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle in the city.
Members also endorsed the ‘Safety Tips for Taxi and Private Hire Drivers’ guidance, produced to help workers in the trade stay safe.
A move to increase Glasgow taxi fares by 19.36 per cent will now go ahead after no objections emerged during a public notice period.
People had the option to give feedback on the fare increase for a month after it was agreed at the council’s licensing and regulatory committee in January.
According to GlasgowLive no representations were received about the rise in fares after a public notice was published in the local press.
Research found that taxi drivers’ costs in the city soared by 19.36 per cent over the course of 18 months between February 2021 and September 2022.
The minimum charge is to rise from £3.40 to £4. The £4 fee is for a distance not exceeding 886 yards and a time not exceeding two minutes 46 seconds.
The time charge is to be changed from an increment of 20p to 30p and the soiling charge is to go up from £35 to £42.
Night time additional fees are also rising from £1.20 to £1.40 after 11pm and before 6am.
On Wednesday 8 March, the licensing and regulatory committee agreed to instruct the council’s director of legal and administration to give notice of the decision to raise fares in line with licensing legislation.
However a taxi operator will still have the option to lodge an appeal with the Traffic Commissioner for the Scottish Traffic Area against the new taxi fare decision, which would mean it would be suspended until dealt with.
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-taxi-fares-increase-after-26427896
People applying for taxi driver licences from North Somerset Council will no longer face a cap of five attempts at the knowledge test — but some might need to buy a newer car.
Currently, taxi drivers are only able to retake the knowledge exam a maximum of five times.
But Weston-super-Mare Uphill councillor, Peter Bryant, proposed an amendment to the five tests cap at a meeting of North Somerset Council’s licensing committee on February 7, arguing: “It shouldn’t be full and final.”
Under the new policy, which will be subject to public consultation before coming into effect, taxi driver applicants who have failed the test five times will get another chance to take the exam after six months.
Drivers will be expected to familiarise themselves with the district's roads in that time, but the option to wait another six months and have another attempt at the test will still be there for applicants who keep failing the test.
Mr Bryant said: “I think we are being generous to people, whether they take up the opportunity of having the second bash at it or not.”
The rules around which cars could be used as taxis were also agreed upon at the meeting.
Currently, vehicles can be up to eight years old when first registered as a taxi. But under the updated rules, no car older than five years will be able to be registered as a taxi.
Vehicles will also not be allowed to be taxis if they have previously been written off as an insurance loss for any reason.
Currently, vehicles that had been written off under category S or N but then repaired could be registered as taxis if an inspector agreed it was safe.
Drivers of taxis that are already licensed but would not be able to get a new licence under the updated rules may still be able to continue getting their vehicle re-licensed under “grandfather rights.”
The updated policies will not come into effect until they have gone through public consultation.
Source: https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/taxi-drivers-can-unlimited-tests-8228248
A private hire driver was found asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the road, prompting concerns for public safety.
A private hire driver who continued to work despite having his licence suspended, has been prosecuted by Oldham Council.
The Hinckley Area Taxi Association has proposed new tariffs to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which could make the borough's taxis the most expensive in Leicestershire.
Shaun Meenan attacked the teenager, who was a stranger to him, both in his vehicle and then in her home after gaining entry under false pretenses
Hillingdon Council launches consultation on PSPO to prohibit PHVs and taxis from waiting in residential streets around Heathrow Airport.
A taxi driver was left shaken after being robbed and assaulted by a knife-wielding passenger in Gateshead.
The proposed changes,which are set to be discussed at the licensing committee this week, would affect fares during weekdays, evenings,weekends, and festive periods.
A 71-year-old taxi driver has had his license revoked by the Stratford-on-Avon District Council due to public safety concerns.
Wolverhampton taxi drivers are set to be given powers to record audio in their cabs if they feel in danger following a spate of attacks.
Residents of Stirling are being invited to have their say on plans for a new taxi rank in the city center, as the local authority looks to address a growing demand for taxi services.
As of this year, only 278 licensed taxis are in service, significantly lower than the government's goal of 310.
Over 200 children from across England suffering from chronic or life-limiting conditions experienced a dream come true this weekend, thanks to a heartwarming initiative by London's black cab drivers.
Residents are being encouraged to participate in a consultation on proposed new taxi charges.
Taxi drivers at Bristol Parkway railway station are expressing frustration over a subsidised bus service that they believe is cutting into their business.
A year after the removal of a taxi rank due to lack of customers, Ipswich Borough Council is proposing to introduce a new five-place rank on Key Street.
A taxi driver who had his licence revoked following allegations of posting offensive material online has been given the chance to reapply.
The Glasgow Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has shown initial positive results in reducing air pollution, according to a new report.
Colin Aylward, who lives in Chittys Lane, Dagenham, captured the shocking incident on his home security system.
Independent Councilor Dave Patrick warned that the proposed increases would make Fenland one of the most expensive places in the country for taxi travel
Bleed kit charity, RAPAID, has already installed over 5,000 kits in UK cities in a bid to put emergency bandages in permanent circulation so that they are on hand whenever needed.