Taxi Driver Online

Unsafe vehicles ordered off road

SIXTEEN vehicles which ferry pupils to and from schools have been taken off the road following safety checks. Minibuses, Hackney Carriage cabs and private hire taxis were subjected to thorough inspections across Hertfordshire during March.

A total of 56 vehicles were stopped in the multi-agency operation - 35 defects were found, with 16 vehicles having faults serious enough for them to be taken off the road immediately.

Police, councils and VOSA - the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency - were involved in the operation. Inspector Keith Tilley, of Herts Constabulary's road policing policy unit, said: "The purpose of this operation was to ensure that the vehicles were reaching the required standards of roadworthiness, and it was disappointing to see that so many vehicles had defects which could easily have been remedied. "We will continue to carry out these types of checks throughout the rest of 2007."

County councillor Stuart Pile, executive member with responsibility for road safety, said: "The number of vehicles with defects is a serious cause for concern, but shows the importance of carrying out these operations.

"The drivers of these vehicles put at risk the lives of not only themselves, but also of their passengers and that is unacceptable. "I would urge anyone who drives members of the public to get their vehicles serviced on a regular basis to ensure their safety and that of other road users.

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IDFIMH

And I bet not one of them have lost the contracts because of it.

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Reply from T.
This what happens when too many cars are chasing the work the better companies are undercut by those that cut corners, maintenance and safety are the first to be cut. Dereg/Delimit will force more and more otherwise responsible drivers to enconomise on the essentials and work dangerously long hour to make a living. All these vehicle checks will not change a thing because the chances of being caught are remote and the penalties imposed are not high enough compared to the earnings being made. No how matter how high you set the standard when contracts are awarded on price there will always be someone trying to cut corners to get a competative edge. The LA contracts would cost more to police than cost of the transport.

Don't be so stupid.

How can paying up to £80,000 for a piece of plastic help keep vehicle standards high?

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IDFIMH

Well well well what do ya know, but they only have themselves to blame

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Reply from T.
Because people who can raise £80K often know what they are doing. It keeps out the chancers and riff raff. If you have made a large investment you are going to look after it. If you put nothing in you got nothing to lose so if you are caught breaking the rules you walk away and try your luck on something else. It shows commitment.

What like Blackpool and Liverpool? Where plate premium is king, and vehicle standards are sh**.

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IDFIMH

And 72% of taxis, and 100% of PH, in the country haven't any commitment?

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IDFIMH

Reply from T.
So people spend £80k on a business without thinking about how they will get a return on that investment. Are the bankruptcy courts of Blackpool and Liverpool jamed up with failed taxi drivers? No, but I bet the waiting list for a free plate is jamed up freeloaders.
Anything you get for nothing is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Reply from T.
72% of Taxis and 100% of PH can walk away tomorrow into another job. If you invested a sustantial sum in a business you are likley to give it your utmost effort, firstly to gain a return on the investment and secondly to recoup that initial investment. You have a vested interest in ensuring the business is successful. That's the real world, beyond Sussex.

The precarious nature of your so called investment lies with the whim of a councillor. You have no say about the long or short term nature of the investment because at no time do you have control over it. The only thing you hope to control in order to make your investment semi secure, is the councillor. Your reasoning fails to take into account many factors not least the power of the court to render a license worthless at the drop of a hat.

As usual your comments are ill thought out and should carry a health warning.

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

No, because if the cartel is stable then if they can't make a go of it then they'll just sell it on and repay the loan.

But that has nothing to do with the initial point.



Like you when you were on it

Do as I say, not as I do



Says a lot about you then T.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Doesn't say much for the PH you drive then.

What was that I was saying about irony?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

So there is an endless supply of people willing to invest £80k in a business that is not making money. Win Win situation, why isnt everybody with £80k on this money-go-round.



When I was on the waiting list I was making my contribution by working and continuing the service to the public. The waiting list should only be open to licensed drivers.


As above I paid for my plate with the time I put in as a driver.


Yes it does show I have made a contibution to the trade and have real commitment to it.

The 80k represents the value of the excess profits, thus to an extent there's always going to be a reasonable return, but the owner may find a better use for his money.

Everyone isn't on this money go round because it depends on the closed market to justify shelling out £80k, so your question is wholly contradictory.



Problem is, it's a lottery because some could be on it for their working life without getting a plate.

But your statement brings us back to the point I made a few days ago - if someone is deemed suitable to drive, why not own?

Answer - because it suits the cartel and people like yourself.



So how long should drivers have to serve before they get a plate, and how can you justify this on rational grounds?



Until you make a vast profit from selling your plate, that is

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Taxi Driver Online
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