Taxi drivers in Brighton are being told to keep plug-in heaters in their cars to keep them warm in wintery weather to dodge a crackdown on idling engines.
Brighton and Hove News reports that council officers told cabbies last week they would be fined if caught with their engines running if the temperature was zero degrees or higher.
Earlier this month, at least one taxi driver, George Ayad, was told he would be fined after an environmental enforcement officer spotted him with the engine on while at the East Street taxi rank, even though it was snowing.
And just ahead of last Thursday’s meeting of the Brighton and Hove Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Consultation Forum last, drivers were told to keep doors and windows closed and buy heaters to keep warm.
Andrew Peters, of the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association, said: “We have now been sent advice which defines when us minions can keep the engine running and some advice at the end to all go out and buy plug in heaters. You couldnt make it up!
“I laboured the point at the meeting last week about not being able to have the engines running for heat unless it was below zero.
“It was apparent straight away that not all at the head table were aware of this.
“Additionally I pointed out that to have a 12v internal heater running on the aux would mean for some cars having to have the ignition on first click which would run the battery down.
“We also have on board equipment such as CCTV, meters and taxi roof signs all drawing power.
“I have asked for a rewrite excluding where it stated zero degree and to be sent out to the trade.
“The advice also suggests having heating on while travelling to and from the rank and keeping windows and doors closed.”
Brighton and Hove City Council introduced the on the spot fines for idling engines this month. Within days, drivers were being asked to switch off their engines by the council’s environment enforcement officers despite sub-zero temperatures.
George Ayad, who was told he would be getting a fine in the post, said he had heard Councillor Tim Rowkins on BBC Sussex saying tickets wouldn’t be issued to taxi drivers trying to keep warm. During the interview, Cllr Rowkins did say this applied to “sub-zero temperatures”
George said: “Suddenly on Sunday an enforcement officer came to me and he asked me if I could turn the engine off.
“I said no, because it’s too cold. It was about six in the morning and it was snowing. He said you have got to turn it off or I’ll give you a ticket.”
George refused to give his name and address, but the enforcement officer took his plate number and said he would track him down using that and to expect a ticket.
George says the officer even double checked the rules with his boss, but insisted the ticket would stand. He had been inside his cab, with the windows closed to keep out the cold.
He added: “On Friday night at 2.30am all the enforcement officers are around the West Street taxi rank. They have been going around and asking all the drivers to turn their engines off.
“We do minimum 10 hour shifts. Sometimes we can wait for one and a half hours for a job.
“Some drivers have problems with their joints. We have to keep ourselves warm.
“It looks like they are targeting the taxi drivers. We never see them anywhere except the taxi ranks.”
A council spokesman said: “We take a common sense approach to enforcement so there are exemptions, including those which take into consideration severe weather and the health and safety of the driver or passengers.
“However, taxi drivers seen idling their engines whilst stationary at a taxi rank with their windows open or vacant from their vehicle would be expected to comply with the instruction to turn off their engine, since the defence of keeping warm would not apply.”
The rules say: “Authorised Environmental Enforcement Officers will apply discretion before issuing a fixed penalty notice for example when a driver is clearing ice or snow from the car and the engine is idling.”
The fine for idling is £20, or £40 if not paid within 10 days.
Motorists will still take the first MOT test three years after buying their new car as the Government continues to listen to drivers.
On 25 January the Government published its response to the consultation on updating MOT testing for cars, motorbikes and vans, which confirms that the first MOT will remain at three years from registration.
Every subsequent MOT will also continue to be taken once every year, ensuring motorists can continue to drive with peace of mind.
Launched in January 2023, the consultation sought views to ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance the cost to motorists, road safety, advances in vehicle technology, and tackling vehicle emissions.
To ensure MOTs are fit for the future, the Government will further investigate how to better monitor diesel vehicle emissions through the DVSA. This will include whether testing should do more to ensure that diesel vehicles comply with emissions regulations.
Analysis from the AA suggests that an annual MOT can potentially save drivers between £200 and £400 as picking up developing faults each year means drivers aren’t hit with higher repair bills further down the road.
Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “We have listened to drivers and industry, and keeping MOTs in their current form shows once again that we are on the side of motorists.
“By offering clarity on MOT tests, alongside our recent street works consultation and unprecedented £8.3 billion to resurface roads, we are helping motorists drive with peace of mind and ensuring Britain’s roads continue to be some of the safest in the world.”
With the constantly improving technology of modern-day cars and Electric Vehicles (EVs), the Department will continue to work closely with industry stakeholders and drivers to establish a programme of longer term, reform for MOTs.
To ensure they remain fit for the future, the Government is exploring a more effective test for diesel particulate emissions, whether further improvements could be made to the MOT for electric vehicles and the transfer of some larger zero-emissions vans to more standard, car-style MOT testing.
Neil Barlow, Head of Vehicle Policy at DVSA, said: "Ensuring the MOT remains fit for the future is a key part of DVSA’s work, and getting ready for new technology will help keep Britain's roads safe.
“We hope this positive news will provide some certainty for garages to enable the investment in new technologies that could be needed to keep the MOT at the forefront of road safety and the environment."
DfT will also monitor technological developments that could require an altered MOT, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Jakob Pfaudler, AA CEO, said: "AA polling showed drivers overwhelmingly (83%) supported the annual MOT for keeping their cars and other cars safe. With one in 10 cars failing their first MOT, we fully support the Government’s pragmatic decision to maintain the first MOT at three years and annually thereafter.”
The measures follow last week’s proposals to tackle overrunning street works from utility companies and the biggest ever funding boost of £8.3 billion, enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of local roads in England, as the Government continues to be on the side of drivers and improve journeys for more people, in more places, more quickly.
David Lawrie, Director NPHTA, said: "Not that this would have had any impact on our industry, due to having compliance tests biannually or tri annually, but it could have raised questions moving forward had the annual retest been moved to every second year.
"So we are pleased to see the status quo announced, nothing is changing."
Corky's Cars recently purchased a Tesla Model Y and are the first private hire company to license a full electric vehicle with Cannock Chase District Council.
Proprietor William Rotchell told PHTM: "We are already operating a fleet of 80% hybrid vehicles with this being our first full electric car.
"Our aim is to be 100% green by 2025 and so be the first environmentally friendly private hire company in the area with an entire fleet of electric vehicles."
"To promote reducing our carbon footprint, we are giving out FREE taxi rides at random to local customers for the first month.
"They will have the opportunity to indulge in luxury, sustainability and cutting-edge technology, all while enjoying a complimentary ride."
And their customers are loving it!....
Martin Morris said: "Looking good, that's nice livery, good idea going green."
Sam Nicholls stated: "Great idea from a great company always giving back."
Zoe Burns-Mace added: "Got picked up this morning by Will what a fantastic idea."
The roll-out of 20mph speed limits on main roads has had a "devastating" impact on London’s taxi trade, City Hall has been told.
According to The Standard, Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said on Tuesday 23 January that reduced speed limits have led "many, many dozens" of his members to lose their jobs.
TfL argues that lower speed limits are making London's roads safer by reducing deaths and serious injuries.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the London Assembly’s transport committee, where Mr McNamara was asked to describe the impact of 20mph limits on taxis.
He said: "In a word - devastating. The argument for lower speeds is obviously clear, the safety arguments are clear and unequivocal, really, on secondary roads.
“[On] all of the side streets, I don’t think anyone would argue against 20mph speed limits, certainly not us. But since the mayor’s introduction onto the TLRN [Transport for London Road Network], we’re looking at roads like the Finchley Road, which is a three-lane dual carriageway in either direction.
"We are now seeing a situation where I have got, it’s not hundreds yet, but it’s many, many dozens of members, who are now out of work and unlicensed, some of whom have been driving a cab for 40 years with an absolutely faultless driving record. [These drivers] have found themselves with 12 points in absolutely no time at all.
"Of course, during the day, it’s quite easy to maintain 20mph - but at 4am, if you’re coming down Park Lane - which was previously 40mph as recently as a year ago - you’re coming down Park Lane at 20mph and the vehicle creeps up to 24mph.
"I can literally give you multiple examples of drivers that have been caught at 24, 24, 24 and 24, at all hours of the night, and have lost their licences."
He added: "I accept the simple argument [of] ‘well you shouldn't have done it’, but of course in the real world, these people aren’t a danger to anyone. They’re not driving recklessly.
"These have had a major, major impact."
TfL runs about five per cent of London’s roads. The highways under its control are known as ‘red routes’ and form the arteries of the capital’s road network. The rest of London’s streets are run by borough councils.
As part of mayor Sadiq Khan’s "vision zero" aim of reducing road deaths to zero by 2041, TfL has been working to gradually introduce 20mph limits on 140km of its roads.
Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall, along with Reform UK’s Howard Cox and some independent candidates, have all called for the limits to be removed from main roads.
A TfL spokesman said: "We believe keeping people safe works hand in hand with keeping people moving on the road network efficiently and data suggests that journey times on the TfL road network remain at similar levels to those in 2019."
Mr McNamara also told the committee that TfL had introduced a number of “ableist” traffic reduction schemes, which he claimed had made it harder for elderly and disabled people to get around London by taxi.
He said: "There are numerous videos doing the rounds of elderly and disabled people, having to walk from the front of Liverpool Street station, 200 yards to the cab rank, and then having to be taken on a circuitous tour of London to go in the opposite direction. These schemes are ableist, that’s what they are."
Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of transport strategy and policy, said to committee members: "Our job at TfL is to manage [traffic] on a finite road network, balance the needs of all our users, and that includes disabled people, people who need to get around the network, people who are reliant on public transport, people who want to walk and cycle."
She said that when weighing up that balance, TfL does "take into consideration" the fact that taxis provide a door-to-door service for people with reduced mobility.
Mr McNamara later said taxis have had to "fight tooth and nail" to be allowed to access roads where traffic reduction schemes have been installed, "when the opposite should be true".
Ms Calderato responded: "Taxis have access to 95 per cent of bus lanes, and the default will be [that] taxis will be included, unless there is a specific reason - which might be that there will be a detrimental effect on the bus network or a detrimental safety impact for people walking or cycling.
"In those circumstances only, that’s where we’ll look to restrict that access.
"Borough schemes are individual schemes and they’re decided by the boroughs, but we have worked with the boroughs and spoken to boroughs about supporting taxis, and what initiatives can be done to do that."
South Ayrshire Council is calling on taxi firms in the region to tender for a new contract.
The Ayr Advertiser reports that the local authority is looking for transport services for school children and adults with particular needs.
It is also looking for general and specialised taxi services for the transportation of people and products over the next four years.
The contract is now open for bids on Public Contracts Scotland at ow.ly/Mcib50QrENG, with a deadline of noon on Friday, February 16.
A free online training session for help submitting a bid will be held on Tuesday, January 30, from 10am to 11.30am.
Source: https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/24070737.south-ayrshire-taxi-firms-urged-tender-new-contract/
An unlicensed taxi driver who picked up two vulnerable women in Aberdare has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in fines and costs.
Cleethorpes taxi drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after council enforcement officers cracked down on vehicles illegally parked in designated taxi ranks.
A Barry man has avoided jail after launching a drunken attack on a taxi driver who refused him entry to his vehicle.
Jersey’s taxi service is in crisis, with driver numbers plummeting by more than a quarter since 2014, a new report has revealed.
On Wednesday 27 July, more than 300 vulnerable youngsters were taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Southport.
Taxi drivers in the town will be able to charge passengers more following a decision by the borough council on 31 July.
A taxi driver has been sentenced to a community order after admitting causing the death of a pedestrian by driving at excessive speed.
A joint operation by council, police, and DVSA officials has seen three taxis taken off the road in Oldham due to safety concerns.
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex could soon be forced to accept card payments, following a surge in complaints about cash-only services.
Two men have avoided immediate jail time after a high-speed race left a taxi driver with serious injuries.
BYD, manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Uber, designed to bring 100,000 new BYD EVs onto the Uber platform across key global markets.
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.