|
Sent 8/8 @ 2300 hrs
TO: Donald Macleod
Council Solicitor
City of Edinburgh Council
8th August 2012
Dear Mr Macleod
TACHOGRAPHS – the new imperative from the policy to restrict licensed taxis
You will be aware of my recent sojourn with one of the principal private hire companies in Edinburgh, brought about because of my inability to gain work driving a licensed taxi in Edinburgh; which I am properly qualified to do, but excluded and ostracised by the taxi trade for exercising my right to articulate my political opinion in respect of the council’s policy to restrict taxis in the area and which has empowered vested trade interests.
Since becoming qualified I have seen the number of taxis in Edinburgh increase by around 30% while private hire has expanded more than ten times as much – 300%. This has been possible because the lack of restriction of private hire licenses has allowed any increase in public demand to be met by private hire before the cumbersome studies to determine the demand for taxi services could be undertaken.
The effect of this has been to drive the provision of taxi services to the lowest common denominator in terms of price and service to the customer.
As highlighted on the Taxi Driver Online forum, and now outlined directly to you, my recent experience has highlighted to me that not only does the policy to restrict taxis mitigate against the employment opportunities of an individual, not only does it restrict one’s ability to conduct their own business in a supposedly free market political and economic system, it specifically mitigates against the interests of the fare paying public and the public generally because of the inherently unsafe working practices which drivers are forced to endure in order to make any sort of decent living for their labour. In short, private hire, as proved by my personal experience, has proved itself to be little more than a danger to the public.
I cite one situation which is known to me. Although I am certain that many such instances exist.
Because of the high rental fees charges to drivers, as well as the unfair additional costs placed upon them in terms of job commissions and other fees, and vehicle charges which rightfully should be borne by owners, drivers are forced to work inordinately long hours – 7 days a week, without a day off for rest, and 12 hours per day, more if they can get them, it is clear that drivers are being encouraged to work well beyond what would be considered safe in any other section of the driving profession. In the absence of any realistic monitoring by the authorities, particularly through the base licence system, this is now the norm rather than the occasional.
The example highlighted on the forum was where a job was called from the airport because of an air service cancellation; the destination of which was WICK. I happen to know that this was not a single job, there were many, each of which had the same potential for disastrous consequences I now outline.
For the job in question, it was allocated late afternoon. The driver had first signed on at around 7.30 am that morning. On arriving in Wick the driver dropped a passenger off at their home; then he agreed an additional fare of £30 to take another passenger a further 15 miles on onward journey. The driver then returned back to Edinburgh in a continuous driving shift, the total of which was over 21 hours.
My contention is that the culture in the company, and I suggest in private hire generally until proved otherwise, is such that such a plum job would never be refused by a driver.
I understand that the company is supposed to have contingencies in place to ensure that this couldn’t happen; but I also understand that jobs can be allocated to favoured drivers by control room staff in breach of the rules.
When this driver set off he had already placed his passenger in some considerable danger.
By the time this driver was into his marathon journey he was placing every other pedestrian and road user in peril because of his selfish actions. (Remember, we don’t know what this driver was doing prior to his shift, nor do we know what he was doing after it; and which could have imperiled the public even more).
It is worth noting that the greater part of this journey’s route was on the “killer” A9, a road notorious for serious road accidents because of the changes from single to dual carriageway and back again, which encourages impatient overtaking and bad driving.
It is clear that, while private hire does exist in parallel with taxi trades in other parts of the country, over 75% of local authorities do not restrict taxis and the key service, as in London which also doesn’t restrict, is for quality hackney taxis (and where the problem with mini-cabs is well known).
It appears we have now reached the point where the council’s policy to restrict taxis, and the lack of any proper monitoring system or tachograph, is actively imperiling the public as it encourages the descent to the lowest common denominator of taxi service provision.
I urge the council to consider this matter fully and look forward to your earliest reply.
Yours
Jim Taylor
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Attributed to Voltaire.
_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"
|
Login
Register
FAQ
