Taxi Driver Online

The rank injustice of assessing taxis by age

REARVIEW: TAKING A TAXI in most European countries is a simple process. Stand at the side of any street, spot the (usually) light-coloured vehicle, put up your hand and off you go.

In Ireland things can be different. Your public service vehicle can be anything from a Nissan Primera to a Mitsubishi Pajero and be neon yellow, metallic silver or fire-engine red.

The illuminated roof sign is a rough guide to availability. Moves to standardise the taxi fleet seem to be always met with resistance from taxi men and women. But a recent complaint by taxi groups, on the introduction of a new rule on vehicle age, is legitimate and the plan by the Commission for Taxi Regulation should be amended.

Under the new rules, which came into force earlier this month, all taxis must be less than nine years old on their licence renewal date. The commission estimates that 24 per cent of the 23,000 taxis will need to be replaced in the next year. Taxi groups say the move will see thousands of drivers, already feeling the pinch in harsh economic times, put off the road. They say it will also see many high-quality vehicles scrapped for no good reason.

It is not feasible for many drivers to replace their cars at a time when incomes are down generally and banks are loath to hand out loans. It is, in short, a recipe for financial disaster for many taxi drivers and their families.

The use of the vehicle’s age is a crude instrument when measuring the suitability for use as a taxi. A quick search of used car websites will show the many vehicles nine years and older (Mercedes. Lexus, Volkswagen and Audi spring to mind) that are far from the end of their usefulness.

The commission is right to insist on vehicles that are safe, comfortable, clean and fit for purpose, while also encouraging the use of fuel-efficient cars. We must also aim for a standardised taxi fleet along the lines of the likes of Paris or Berlin. However, breaking open a peanut with a sledgehammer is not the right approach.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/

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

Deristriction has really worked in dublin !

For every Dublin there is a London.

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IDFIMH

have they changed thier law in the ROI?

it used be that a vehicle didnt need an "MOT" till SEVEN years old, and given that most of the roads are at best like our B roads thier vehicles always used to be knackered long before any here

a big 4x4 seems a good choice really

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Seeing they all cost so much new id bloody well hope so

but theres a wide gulf between "useful" for private use and "useful" fot carrying fare paying passengers

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

sussex :For every Dublin there is a London.

And you dont think theyd like a restricted licensed trade in london ? Also the ph in london is the model you aspire to i suppose,addison lee ect ?

There a hell of a lot of difference between a 10 year old purpose built taxi and a 10 year old mondeo ! If its maintained and inspected often i really dont see the problem.

Not a fan of AL, but I bet everyone of their motors is better than what you rank with.

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IDFIMH

You sure about that ? Do you know what i drive ? Sorry stupid question you dont...

P reg Fairway you said....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

this "Purpose built" is a load of old pony

they (Lti, or in your case Carbodies) just weld and bolt together panels they outsourced (like Ford+Vauxhall do) and fit an engine and transmission (like Ford+Vauxhall do), I know for a fact current ACs fitted in LTis are from India, ok its hotter out there but they dont HAVE aircon......

A commercial vehicle is better built than most "cars", ive had plenty of vans, but no MOT failures, then again my lads punto has never failed, had ONE advisory (dirty rear lens) and THATS ten years old......

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I see there are several X reg mondeos with HC plates in blackpool, and a V reg, these wouldnt be allowed here, good condition or even showroom....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

The mondeo will probably be in better nick

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Please expand on this comment sussex

He's saying, at a guess, London is delimited, yet due to the high standard of their knowledge test, the chaff is weeded out.

In fairness to TDO, even though I believe taxi delimitation is wrong, the site did say many years ago dublin seriously needed age limits and high driver standards before delimitation.

Although, I am reminded by a certain report from the Great Border City back in the mid 1990's, where the Police gave the view that if standards were too high, 'not enough people' would take up the option.

CC

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