Taxi Driver Online

CCTV boost for Blackpool cabs


TAXI cabs in Blackpool are to be fitted with video advertising screens to pay for an expansion of a CCTV scheme.

Blackpool Council has signed a contract with Cabvertz of Blackpool to supply the silent screens to selected cabs that already use the CCTV system.

The screens will be used to sell advertising space to will generate cash for the council to use to maintain the CCTV system as well as fit more cabs with the crime preventing measure.

After the first two years, of the five year deal, the funding will be passed to the cab owners to help them maintain equipment.

The first CCTV systems were fitted in July 2008 and there has already been a 14 per cent drop in police-recorded incidents involving taxis.

Councillor Henry Mitchell, chairman of the council's licensing committee, said: "As far as we can ascertain there is no similar funding scheme in the country. The advertising screens will generate an income that will be pumped directly back in to funding more cameras so the council tax payer is not affected. There is no cost at all to the cab owners and the public safety benefits, of course, speak for themselves.

"Public safety is paramount for the taxi cabs and private hire vehicles we license and the CCTV cameras have had a real impact in to the number of incidents of crime involving such a vehicle. I welcome this scheme and hope that we can expand the scheme in the near future. Any initiative that benefits the safety of the drivers and the people who use their vehicles is one to be applauded."

There are 92 Hackney cabs and private hire vehicles equipped with the CCTV cameras funded by Blackpool Council's licensing service and Bsafe Blackpool.

It is hoped through the funding from the advertising screens, more of the fleet of 256 Hackneys and 450 Private Hire cars will be fitted with the cameras.

Justin Hall, Mmnaging director of Cabvertz, said: "Due to the nature of the scheme the whole of Blackpool benefits. Making the town safer can only help to promote the town's tourism industry while the advertising screens offer local businesses a new and exciting platform to advertise on a local level, affordably and to a captive audience.

"We are proud to have been chosen to work in partnership with Blackpool Council on this initiative. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the businesses that have supported this campaign so far and we look forward to the time that all Blackpool cabs have CCTV installed in them without any of the cost being passed on to the taxpayer. "

The screens will be fitted in the first week of April with adverts appearing on the screens shortly afterwards.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

How about subliminal messages telling the passenger the cab is not a shed on wheels?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Are there no standards for the cabs in Blackpool then

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Yes they've just brought them in.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well what are they then and will it get rid of the sheds?

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The chap from Blackpool mentioned it at the regional meeting.

Blackpool Gazette

August 28, 2007

Rules to freshen up resort's taxis

BLACKPOOL'S taxi fleet is to be brought more up to date by rules set by councillors this week.

A hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy will require a maximum age for all vehicles of 15 years from next January.

The age limit will then reduce annually by one year until 2013 when the maximum age will be 10 years.

Part of the reason for the proposed change is to improve air quality by cracking down on emissions from older cars.

The document, which will be considered by members of Blackpool Council's public protection subcommittee on Thursday, also aims to introduce a stricter dress code for drivers.

T-shirts bearing offending logos, football shirts and baseball caps will be banned.

Testing

Drivers will be able to wear shorts as long as they are tailored.

A report to the committee says: "The policy document attempts to achieve a balance between driving up the standards of the hackney carriage and private hire fleet to provide the best possible service to the public, whilst enabling proprietors to earn their living.

"Major areas for consideration are a fleet age policy, increases in the testing regime for older vehicles, a more rigid policy with regard to stretched limousines, which conforms to a recent uniform policy to cover all Greater Manchester authorities to which Blackpool is affiliated, and a more comprehensive dress code."

Drivers will also have to display "How am I driving?" signage and a telephone hotline.

Recently drivers held an impromptu strike in protest at the council's enforcement policy which has seen vehicles taken in for testing during busy Friday and Saturday night shifts.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This should be interesting

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I went to Blackpool a few years ago and got a cab from the hotel to a club further into town, the cab that came was an antique ex London taxi on an old F plate if I recall, the back windows were held up with Taxi cards because they slipped down, we got to our destination only a mile or so up the road £7 I didn't tip him.