bloodnock wrote:
You have lost it!! Of course Speed is relevant the quicker you can get back to base, rank or customer pick up point the more runs your likely to fit in, or have I missed something here that Dictates that Hacks can carry out as many runs as they want irrespective of available time.
But if you wish to do less by tootling along all day your more than welcome to, but all your likely to be seeing is the rear number plate of every Hack and PH as they realise the gravity and drawbacks of working curtailed hours brought about through enforced Tachograph use.
Must be my Imagination that when I'm in Edinburgh or any other City of an evening that you Hack guys and PH guys alike seem to drive faster than a chronic Diarrhetic looking for a toilet.

Er no! Not so.
The economics of the trade are that, for night-shift, we're now down to around two average fares an hour on a weeknight, 3 on early weekend nights, and four at peak periods.
Substantially these numbers don't change. Even when its busy, like fest time there is a limit to how many fares can be done.
Racing to the next fare is futile, and dangerous.
As for Edinburgh taxi drivers driving faster, then this is simply because they're stupid and don't understand their own trade.
Fact is, in these days of new technology, the art of street pickup is being lost. So we have a situation where taxi drivers crawl along looking for the hand going up, get the punter in the car, then drive like maniacs to get them out again is as quick as and supposedly onto the next one. The reality, them just being little more than a mobile chicane and a hazard and inconvenience to other road users, who resent their arrogant misuse of the road.
The fact is that, for streetwork, there are known stretches where a pickup is likely. The rest of the time it's a no-no.
So a skilled street-car driver, knowing this, would drive with purpose, within the speed limit of course, to those areas where a pick-up is likely. He/she would pick up a passenger and drive them in some safety and comfort to their destination, hopefully an experience they would be happy to repeat.
But we've all seen taxis hurtling along, passengers heads bobbing about as they are jostled by drivers who just want their cash cow to cash up and ship out. That is not service to the public.
Speed is irrelevant. You can drive faster, but you're likely just going to sit on a rank longer, or cruise looking for a fare longer burning up ever more expensive fuel, all while posing an extra danger to the rest of us.
So BK, don't confuse Edinburgh taxi drivers, and your own, stupidity with common sense.
BTW The council doesn't licence drivers to behave like you suggest.