Taxi Driver Online

Minicabs forced to carry signs

MINICABS will be forced to carry signs on their sides in a bid to deter illegal operators. Swindon Council has written to all minicab, or private hire vehicle, operators telling them they must now carry signs on their sides showing they are licensed to operate in the borough.

The move follows a push by Coun David Glaholm, calling for minicabs to be more obviously labelled. In the letter to operators on August 15, passenger transport officer Rod Collett says the new rules follow a decision by the taxi and private hire licensing sub-committee.

He said council officers would be working on what the signs should say and will present them to the council by the end of next month."In the interim, however, the sub-committee decided that it will now be mandatory for all vehicles to carry door signs clearly stating the name of the private hire operator from whom the vehicle obtains bookings," Mr Collett says.

"I am sure the vast majority of your vehicles already carry these signs but I would be grateful if you ensure that all vehicles under your control are now equipped with the necessary signage."

Private hire vehicles or minicabs are available only by booking in advance. They are separate from hackney carriages, better known as black cabs, which can be flagged down as well as booked in advance.

Coun Glaholm (Lab, Penhill) said the new rules were a commonsense attempt to make it more obvious to revellers which vehicles were safe to hire. Coun Glaholm said he had been concerned to see minicabs marked only with a small tag on their licence plates operating in Swindon.

He said the more obvious signage would make it easier for late-night revellers to tell which cars were licensed and safe to travel in. "It means public safety will be better than it has been in the past," Coun Glaholm said. "There might be some howls from some drivers but my advice would be if you cannot see the display on the side of the car, don't get in it."

Coun Glaholm said he would be pushing the taxi committee to make it law that the signs carry information that the minicabs can only be booked in advance. He said he wanted the sign to include a warning that getting in without pre-booking would invalidate any insurance.

"The next thing we need to do is to make the signs bigger," Coun Glaholm said. He said it was "bizarre" that the previous rules had not included the need for the obvious signs.

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IDFIMH

Superb.

Another council who decide to take action to solve a perceived problem but just enhance a real one.

Door signs on legit vehicles will not stop a drunken punter staggering happily into an unmarked illegal taxi when it pulls up and says 'do you want a taxi mate'?

The PH vehicles that choose not to have door signs are invariably the upmarket vehicles aimed at Executive work. From my experience (I know I keep going on) this market has by far the most unlicensed, illegally operating vehicles in the south east, and possibly everywhere else.

The Corporate clients want an 'exec car' not a taxi. By making legit 'exec cars' look more like taxis they a) make it harder for legit vehicles to prosper in their chosen market and b) help the illegal ones thrive.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Yes i agree totally, but i still think that in high seasons most members of public still wont give 2 hoots as to wether they get in to a legit taxi or not, but hey its a step in the right direction

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!