Taxi Driver Online

Crackdown on cabbies to tackle bad drivers


A CRACKDOWN on poor driving by cabbies in the Capital has been launched by police following complaints of speeding and illegal parking.

Taxis and private hire vehicles are the focus of a month-long police campaign called Operation Orderly, which was launched this week.

Traffic officers will work alongside colleagues in the taxi examination office to monitor closely the driving standards of taxi and private hire drivers across Edinburgh.

The operation has been launched as a result of complaints from members of the public about the driving standards of "a minority" of taxi and private hire drivers in the city.

Pc Kevin McDougall, of the road policing branch, said: "There's been a massive increase in the number of private hires on the road in the last couple of years so there are a lot of black cabs and private hires on our streets.

"We will be trying to cut down on breaches in road traffic law and taxi regulations such as indiscriminate parking, illegal parking and speeding.

"The taxi regulations state that taxi drivers are not allowed to queue within 50 metres of a taxi rank. We have had complaints from the public about taxis parking outwith the ranks while waiting for a space. On Hanover Street, taxis were queuing back on to Princes Street, and from Waverley Bridge they were queuing back on to Princes Street, causing obstruction with buses.

"With the tram works the roads have become more congested, so problems have just manifested because of that."

Operation Orderly will run until April 30, and officers hope it will improve driving standards and road safety.

Police officers will also be checking driving documents and the general condition of vehicles, including any lighting defects and the condition of tyres.

Mr McDougall added: "The aim is to get drivers up to a professional standard across the board and to improve the driving standards in the city.

A police spokesman said: "We cannot allow a situation to develop where those drivers who flout road traffic law and licensing conditions are allowed to tarnish the reputation of the majority." Phil Capaldi, 53, a black cab driver in Edinburgh for almost 30 years, believes the crackdown is a good idea but should only apply to private hire taxis.

He said: "I think the private hire taxis need to be more strictly monitored. They seem to be a law into themselves. They are picking up illegally and parking illegally. They are not playing by the rules 100 per cent."

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