Taxi Driver Online

OVERCHARGING, aggressive behaviour and falling asleep at the wheel are just some of the complaints made against Cardiff taxi drivers.

Other grievances recorded over the past two years include sexual assault, dangerous driving and abusive language.

More than 350 gripes have been registered with Cardiff council’s licensing department since November 2007, according to figures obtained by the Echo using the Freedom of Information Act.

Most are from unhappy customers, though a handful were made by bus drivers and fellow cabbies.

Overcharging accounted for 65 of the complaints, while drivers refusing fares amassed 58 complaints.

But Cardiff’s Hackney Carriage Association said the figures were minimal given the number of taxis on the road.

Chairman Mathab Khan said: “The majority of these complaints take place on Friday and Saturday nights when licensing enforcement officers are not working.

“Drivers misbehave during rush hour, but if the council want to catch them they need to be discreet and position themselves where these activities are going on.”

The vast majority of complaints did not result in formal action.

The reasons for this varied – in some cases, the allegations could not be substantiated, while some complaints were withdrawn.

Among the more unusual complaints was one instance of a driver refusing to take an elderly passenger with a walking frame.

Another involved a driver showing explicit mobile phone images to his female passenger. The matter was referred to the licensing committee for consideration.

One cabbie was reported to the council for his “filthy” vehicle, which smelt of nappies. Licensing officers visited the rank in question, and a stop notice was issued.

There were two separate cases of drivers urinating in public view – though neither was upheld.

The most recent took place in October, when a cabbie is alleged to have opened his door and urinated into the road.

Cardiff council’s public protection committee introduced compulsory training courses for taxi drivers last month.

The Btec qualification is designed to ensure all applicants are trained in the requirements of the job and are in every way “fit and proper” to provide a high quality service to the public.

Councillor Ed Bridges, chairman of the council’s licensing committee, said: “This course focuses on making sure new drivers have the skills to deliver excellent customer service to all taxi users in Cardiff.

“While Cardiff council does receive complaints from the public about the reprehensible behaviour of some taxi drivers, this represents a small percentage of total fares.”

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

Complaints made against taxis in the capital

November 2007: “Overcharging visitors to the city. Taxi on rank didn’t have meter.” No action taken.

November 2007: “Taxis refusing fare from complainant (who was in a wheelchair) due to short distance and opting to take longer distance fares instead on match day.” Contact details not supplied.

December 2007: “Complainant was crossing the road and was almost run over. Driver slowed down and said ‘move faster next time or you’ll get f***ing run over’.” Disciplinary action taken.

December 2007: “Taxi stopped in the loading bay of the Co-op store in Splott. He was asked to move and told the complainant to f*** off.” Unable to contact complainant.

January 2008: “Driver went through a red light and deliberately splashed the complainant and her friends.” Reported to police.

January 2008: “Driver insulted elderly passengers stating that ‘they can’t walk far’ and he was very rude.” Complainant did not wish to proceed.

February 2008: “Driver sexually assaulted complainant.” Reported to police.

February 2008: “Driver was making sexual remarks.” Unable to contact complainant from details given.

March 2008: “Taxi drivers waiting at Central Station rank urinating against the wall in full view of passers by.” Details not given.

March 2008: “When driver arrived at complainant’s house, he asked her how much she weighed, to which she replied 26st. He then told her that he was only insured to carry 22st and therefore he wouldn’t take her.” Referred to committee for consideration.

March 2008: “Driver short-changed passenger and was asking inappropriate questions regarding whether she had a boyfriend, etc. Questions of a sexual nature.” Complainant details not supplied.

April 2008: “Driver asked lady if she was single and had any children. When they got to her address, he showed her pornography on his mobile phone. He kept saying ‘don’t say anything to anybody’. He also said ‘I want sex with you’.” Referred to committee for consideration.

April 2008: “Lady was told by driver that he would not take an old drunk. He drove off while she was getting into the vehicle. Lady needed to be taken to hospital in ambulance.” Reported to police.

May 2008: “Driver followed complainant’s friend in car home and threatened to beat up complainant and his friends.” Complaint withdrawn.

June 2008: “Taxi pulled in front of complainant who had to swerve to avoid crash. Passengers and driver then gave complainant the ‘fingers’ before speeding off.” Disciplinary action taken.

July 2008: “Driving an unlicensed vehicle while transporting schoolchildren.” Disciplinary action taken.

July 2008: “Complainant asked driver to move on from the 20-minute bay and the driver was very abusive towards him telling him ‘I know where you live’ and ‘I’ll put you in the boot and torture you’. Referred to committee for consideration.

August 2008: “Saw the driver throw a soft drinks bottle at lady motorist after a disagreement.” Reported to police.

September 2008: “After traffic incident occurred between complainant and taxi driver (reported to police as a traffic offence), complainant tried to converse with driver but he said ‘Me no speaka da English’.” Incorrect number taken by complainant.

October 2008: “My daughter and her boyfriend were trying to get a taxi home from the city centre... they were refused a taxi home and four or five drivers beat them up.” Reported to police.

November 2008: “Taxi arrived outside gated apartment complex. Complainant walked out to taxi and said: ‘You should have buzzed in’. Driver then became extremely aggressive towards complainant calling him a ‘f***ing b******’.” Disciplinary action taken.

December 2008: “Complainant, who has MS, and her friend got into taxi. Driver laughed at the short journey even when complainant explained that she had MS and needed to use taxis regularly.” Disciplinary action taken.

January 2009: “Driver threw a cup of coffee out of the window at the complainant. The driver told him to move out of his way or he would hurt him.” Complaint did not wish to proceed.

January 2009: “Taxi driver did not have change of £20 for what was a £6.40 fare. Driver then called complainant a f***ing w*****.” Disciplinary action taken.

March 2009: “Taxi driver smoking in vehicle and told traffic warden to ‘f*** off’.” Disciplinary action taken.

May 2009: “Taxi driver refused to take fare to Roath. When complainant asked driver for badge number, she was told to ‘f*** off’. He then called her a ‘f***ing slut’ and spat in her face.” Reported to police.

June 2009: “Refusal of fare then driver told her to ‘f*** off’. Complainant was with two other females after the Take That concert”. Complainant did not wish to proceed.

August 2009: “Council waste officer abused by taxi driver when trying to empty bins through a rank of taxis.” Complainant did not wish to proceed.

September 2009: “Lady wanted to go to cash point to get money to pay for fare. Driver refused and pushed her out of the cab and to the floor.” Reported to police.

October 2009: “Complainant states driver got out of vehicle and went to near side of vehicle, opened door and urinated on pavement into road.” Complainant did not wish to proceed.

October 2009: “Vehicle was filthy and in an unfit state and smelt of baby faeces. Complainant also states driver was drowsy and believes he was actually asleep at one point in the journey.” Vehicle inspected and stop notice issued.

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

Some of these responses by drivers are actually quite funny

CC

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

“My daughter and her boyfriend were trying to get a taxi home from the city centre... they were refused a taxi home and four or five drivers beat them up.”



“When driver arrived at complainant’s house, he asked her how much she weighed, to which she replied 26st. He then told her that he was only insured to carry 22st and therefore he wouldn’t take her.”



“Complainant was crossing the road and was almost run over. Driver slowed down and said ‘move faster next time or you’ll get f***ing run over’.”



CC

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

The 26 stone one does me.