Taxi Driver Online

I'm alright Jack, does not effect me so I don't care.
Makes you feel great to have such supportive colleagues around the country.

No, it is illegal to refuse service to someone because of a disability, if the driver decides to refuse carriage providing he would make the same decision with everyone he cannot be condemed as discrimination.

I do agree that the driver should lose his licence, but it should be on the grounds of unprofessional conduct, not because the person he unjustifiably refused carriage just happened to be disabled.

I think that was the point that was trying to be made.

At last the penny has dropped, well done.
Cut the emotional crap, it does not matter who the customer is or their condition, if he rufuses any fare without good reason he is WRONG, thats it. People who exploit the disabled to get publicity are the real "scumbags".

I disagree, it has everything to do with the customer.

Would you leave an old dear on her own late at night, I doubt it. But I suspect many of us have blanked a group of lads we didn't like the look off.

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IDFIMH

You are a total MORON. A customer is a customer regardless of age,sex, colour and everything else. If by "dont like the look of" you mean that you fear for your safety, then that is a legitimate reason for not picking them up.

I've been called a lot worse.

But you can't have it both ways, we either treat customers the same or we don't.

I believe we should treat customers differently, but that doesn't mean treating WAV customers worse, it means treating them better.

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IDFIMH

Bleeding heart claptrap. If I were disabled I would destest patronising self praising pratts like you.

No not bleeding heart at all, more like living in the 21st century, as opposed to your dark ages.

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IDFIMH

The lads I work with hate wheel-chair work.
They even go independant to aviod radio WAV work.
How sad is that?

I often wonder why people don't just read what is written.

If you have a justifyable reason for not wanting to pick someone up then you shouldn't pick them up.

The point that is being made here doesn't stem from the original post, in so far as, no-one is actually condoning the actions of the driver.

The point that is being made is that the driver should have his licence revoked because he had no justifyable reason for refusing to carry this person and NOT because the person just happened to be disabled.

Dream your dreams.

Here's one to extend the debate.

A number of WAV drivers, in Gateshead (and I expect elsewhere) have exemption from carrying wheelchairs on medical grounds.

When it was suggested that these peoples licenses to drive WAV's should be suspended until they are fit enough to fully undertake their duties, the disabled lobby group stated that such action would be in contravention of the DDA as they would have been suspended because of their disability.

Dream your Dreams.

Mick,
Gateshead its attitudes and actions are weird,
they break laws according to you at a whim (driver and vehicle licenses not ring fensed) wonder how they cope with council housing and legal rules to have a housing revenue account.

best Mick not to pontificate too much.

B Lucky

Geoff,

Obviously I have nothing better to do than make up stories about what is happening up here.

Maybe our recent change of LO is an indication that a lot of the Licensing Departments "shortcomings" have been identified.

Changes in policies are now inevitable, and we intend to make sure that the needs of the drivers recieves proper consideration.

B. Lucky

The whole approach to WAV and the disabled is wrong.
Using legislation, force, is not the way to get any type of service, it just produces resentment.
Even if you can make a driver carry a w/c passenger it will not change his thinking or attitude and he will most likley show it. The passenger will not enjoy the experience and will be reluctant to use a taxi again.
Far better to use inducement or reward for providing the service, cut VAT on WAV Taxis, reduce license fees, then those that want the work will provide the service and treat the disabled with respect and courtesey.
You cannot change the way people think by force. Some people are not cut out for that type of work in the same way some cannot handle the pub work, we need a variety of skills not robots controlled by legislation.
I have being operating WAV's for 15 years and have refused w/c fares on many occaisions because the people in the w/c have been drunk, aggressive, violent, rude and abusive all the same reasons I refuse other fares, the w/c has never been the issue.
As much as the disabled want equal treatment then so do I. If pubs, clubs resturants etc can refuse service without giving reason, if bus drivers do not have to load/unload w/c, if airlines can charge for providing assistance, if PH cars and coaches don't have to be WAV, why are taxis treated differently. We are being overloaded with the disability legislation.
Is it because we are small companies, easy targets, no nationional organisation and constantly at war with each other ?

The WAV debate will not go away,until all vehicles are wheelchair
accessible.
This is not what I or others in the trade want,but disability steering
groups.
These groups also want dial-a ride(another name for free transport).
In the Dundee area grants were given out to the few people that were
running these vehicles,over the past few years,but since the waiting
list has been scrapped to allow more vehicles,WAVS,to come on this
grant has now ceased.
The grant was given to help with the dead mileage scenario,that at times
was horrific.
I reckon that Dundee has in the region of 200 people that are wheelchair
bound and cannot transfer into saloon type taxis,and therefore require
WAVS.
We now have over 100 WAVS and in the near future I envisage,200.
1 WAV for each person.
Dundee has a decreasing population,roughly 146,000,now with over 600
cabs on the road.
Realism must come into the trade sometime but regarding Dundee,I think
it is too late and there will be a few operators going to the wall.

Discrimination(what,s that).