Taxi Passengers Putting Safety At Risk
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Taxi customers are being warned they could be putting themselves in danger by not booking cabs in advance.
Police, council officials and regulated taxi firms say there could be a rise in "flyer drivers" – private hire taxis illegally allowing themselves to be flagged down by customers – in the run-up to the festive season.
Such journeys are not logged by the drivers with their taxi firms, making it difficult for them to be traced if they are accused of a crime, such as a sexual assault.
DG Cars director Ian Pole said: "When a journey is booked we have a record of who the customer is, where they want to go and which driver is taking them.
"Nine times out of 10 you will get home safely, but that other time something may happen."
Mr Pole said it was "very difficult" to know how many of the city's taxi drivers were operating as flyers.
He added: "We have ordered new door and side panels for our taxi fleet carrying the message 'Advanced Bookings Only'. We should have them fitted before Christmas.
"Taxi firms in some other cities do this already. "
City Hackney carriage drivers have also expressed concerns over flyers.
Jamil Ahmed, secretary of the Nottingham Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "The private hire taxis come into the city and ply for hire because they know Nottingham is successful in attracting people at night.
"It's not just a security issue. If the taxi was involved in an accident then the passenger would have no insurance."
Mr Ahmed said popular spots for flyer drivers include Upper Parliament Street, Old Market Square, Long Row, Friar Lane, High Pavement and Broadway in The Lace Market, and Beastmarket Hill in Hockley.
Inspector Andy Townsend, local area commander for the city centre, backed calls for customers to shun flyers and warned that drivers caught plying for hire would be prosecuted and could lose their taxi licence.
He said: "The safety of the public in Nottingham is paramount and I would ask people not to take private hire cars which tout for business at the roadside.
"Any private hire cab which plies for business illegally is in contravention of their licence, could well be uninsured, and undermines the legitimate cab trade.
"People who want to enjoy a night out and get home safely should either take a black Hackney carriage or book a private car through a licensed operator."
Insp Townsend said his officers would also be continuing to issue fixed penalty notices against Hackney cabbies who are obstructing traffic by illegally parking at bus stops or on double yellow lines, with Beastmarket Hill in Hockley the "worst example" of this.
Councillor Katrina Bull, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: "The safety of our residents and visitors is paramount, as journeys in a private hire car which is not booked are not insured.
"We therefore take illegal plying for hire very seriously and there are frequent operations to detect drivers who do this run jointly by the police and the city council.
"The city council has also warned all our private hire and hackney carriage drivers about the danger and nuisance caused by parking and waiting illegally.
"Penalty charge notices issued to drivers who are caught parking and waiting illegally are dealt with by the police or the council's parking services and can result in payments of £50 or £70 depending on where vehicles are parked."
Source; thisisnottingham.co.uk
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