Taxi Driver Online

Cab company boss dubs plan 'horrendous'


Taxis found to have “minor defects” during testing would be let back out onto the roads to carry passengers for a ten-day period of grace under controversial new proposals.

Martin Hamer, Bradford Council’s principal officer for fleet management, said the Council was considering giving drivers a “little more flexibility” without compromising on safety.

But controversy over the plan intensified when it emerged that Paul Mills, the Council’s hackney carriage and private hire manager, and Andrew Mellor, the unit’s senior licensing inspector, had been suspended.

The suspension of the two employees, who both have ten years’ experience in the hackney carriage unit, are understood to be connected to their opposition to the proposal.

At present, taxis found to have defects during their annual test must be repaired immediately before being allowed to carry passengers again.

But a new document proposes 19 “minor faults” that would not lead to the removal of the taxi’s plates, including defective indicators, fog lamps, wiper blades and exhaust system.

Drivers would be given a ten-day period to rectify the faults.

Staurt Hastings, of taxi firm Metro Keighley, said: “This new system would be horrendous. It’s making it easier for bad drivers with bad cars.

“A car has to be fit for purpose, especially when you consider that we carry vulnerable people and children. If it has defects and fails this test, it should not be allowed on the road.

“When a car goes in for a test, whatever is wrong with it should be put right straightaway.”

But Mr Hamer said: “I can assure the public that standards are not being compromised and we will never issue a taxi licence on an unsafe vehicle or compromise the safety of passengers.

“Following consultation with the trade and elected members, we are simply considering bringing the Council’s procedures on vehicle testing into line with the current MOT test which gives a little more flexibility.

“We are still in negotiations and are consulting the Depart-ment of Transport, the Vehicle Operators Servicing Agency, the police and our vehicle examiners to ensure our procedures are consistent and robust.”

On the matter of the two suspensions, Mr Hamer said: “Two members of staff have been suspended and an investigation will take place.”

Councillor Michael Walls, chairman of Bradford Council’s hackney carriages and private hire panel, said; “I am taking part in a discussion on these proposed changes for taxis on April 20. There is no doubt that things need to be looked at, updated and changed in different ways.

“If it’s a very minor defect that doesn’t affect the safety or running of the car, we could look at a system where they have a few days to put it right.

“I would be against any proposal that in any way affects or makes more dangerous the driving or use of vehicles

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

Whats wrong with the vehicle being taken back within 24 hours for a re-test? Any longer than 24 hours charging a retest fee?

ffs.....the reason testing regimes are harsh in some areas is because drivers take cabs that havent been checked over.

CC

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

If the faults are so minor as to not matter, then why have the conditions applying to them in the first place?

But it's a poor show when senior management and councillors fight the bad fight for sheds.

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IDFIMH

Its the bad guys that invariably cost the good guys money.

CC

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

Girlington and Barkerend cabbies welcome proposal


Some of Bradford’s best-known taxi companies have backed controversial proposals to give cabbies more flexibility when their vehicles are tested.

At present, taxis found to have defects during their annual test must be repaired immediately, but new plans would see drivers given a ten-day period of grace to rectify minor faults.

A document proposes 19 faults that would not lead to the immediate removal of the taxi’s plates, including defective indicators, fog lamps, wiper blades and exhaust systems.

Today, Girlington Taxis, the biggest private hire taxi company in Bradford with more than 170 drivers, welcomed plans for increased flexibility.

Company owner Yasser Iqbal said: “It got ridiculous a couple of years ago because they were pulling drivers for anything during random checks.

“This new plan sounds more sensible. If someone has a broken bulb, they should have chance to sort it out themselves rather than being taken off the road.

“We had an incident where one of our drivers was dropping off passengers in Bradford and was stopped by Council inspectors on Toller Lane and they decided the car was not roadworthy because of a broken bulb.

“They said ‘we are suspending you here and now’ so the driver called up to get a replacement taxi to collect his passengers. When the second car pulled up, it had a nail in the tyre so they said ‘we are suspending that one too, call a third driver’.

“They were always pulling drivers for stuff like that and it caused uproar.”

Mr Iqbal said he knew instances of taxis passing their MOT but failing the Council taxi test a short time later.

Mohammed Abid, from Barkerend Taxis, said: “It’s a very good idea to have a bit more flexibility and will make life easier for the taxi driver.

“If we are paying £180 to get this test done, it causes real problems if they then turn round and say ‘the windscreen wiper is slightly out, we are going to take plates off’.

“We should be able to carry on driving if we have a minor fault because it’s our livelihood.”

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus on Monday, Martin Hamer, Bradford Council’s principal officer for fleet management, said the Council was considering a “little more flexibility” without compromising on safety.

He said the move would bring the Council’s procedures on vehicle testing into line with the current MOT test.

But controversy over the plan intensified when it emerged that Paul Mills, the Council’s hackney carriage and private hire manager, and Andrew Mellor, the unit’s senior licensing inspector, had been suspended. Their suspension was understood to be connected to their opposition to the proposal.

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

Errm.....it isnt roadworthy.



Now thats interesting.

I wonder what will happen the first time one of these minor faults are blamed for an accident.....corporate liability perhaps?

CC

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

When I read things like this I always wonder why they can't have high national standards for the taxis and what is and isn't acceptable. Instead of having basics and then giveng councils the option to increase standards if they want to.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

So the council are now quite happy for those cars to drive punters around for another 10 days with iffy bulbs and iffy tyres?

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IDFIMH

And they suspend their officers for objecting to it?

CC

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

Be interesting to see what (if they are members) NALEO has to say about this.

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IDFIMH

Not sure if they are....they've both been to NTA conferences before though.

CC

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

I suspect they are members of a traditional union, let's hope it one with balls.

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IDFIMH

Are there any unions like that left

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The GMB

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

Defo sure there is at least one.

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IDFIMH