Taxi Driver Online

Consultation on the use of meters by taxis


People in Oswestry are to have their say on the introduction of meters in taxis. Oswestry Borough Council has called for public consultation because taxi firms are split over the proposals.

The council wants to gauge the level of support for the scheme. Questionnaires are available at council offices, the borough council website, libraries, post offices and various other outlets. If given the go-ahead, it would be compulsory for meters to be fitted in all Hackney Carriages.

A table of maximum fares would also have to be set by the borough council, and could include an initial hiring fee, a two-tier charge based on distance, with higher charges at night and on bank holidays, a possible waiting fee and a charge for soiling the vehicle.

The changes would apply to all Hackney Carriages, identified by their blue licence plates. Private hire vehicles, identified by red licence plates, would not be affected by the changes.

The Hackney Carriages can legally use taxi ranks, be hailed in the street or be pre-booked, but private hire vehicles can only be pre-booked.

A spokesman for the council said: “These changes would affect the majority of taxis within the borough because Oswestry currently has nearly 90 Hackney Carriages, but only 10 private hire vehicles.

“The table of maximum fares is only valid within the borough of Oswestry, so if a journey ends in another district, it would still be necessary to negotiate the fare beyond the boundary with the driver or operator,” he added. “The introduction of meters may or may not affect the cost of journeys.”

_________________
IDFIMH

Only a civil servant could come out with a sentence like that.

_________________
IDFIMH

Will not be long before LPH are allowed meters.

Ollie

_________________
Happy to be legit.

Well theres one point I'll back you up on Ollie.

A Fare thats Fair.

I don't think your operators will be too keen on the idea though.

Ollie wrote:
Will not be long before LPH are allowed meters.

Ollie


Well theres one point I'll back you up on Ollie.

A Fare thats Fair.

I don't think your operators will be too keen on the idea though.

I wonder what was behind the reasoning to exclude meters from London P/H vehicles?
.........................................................

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES (LONDON) ACT 1998
1998 CHAPTER 34

Regulation of private hire vehicles in London
Royal Assent [28 July 1998]

Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, Ch. 34, s. 11 (Eng.)

11 Prohibition of taximeters

(1) No vehicle to which a London PHV licence relates shall be equipped with a taximeter.

(2) If such a vehicle is equipped with a taximeter, the owner of that vehicle is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) In this section "taximeter" means a device for calculating the fare to be charged in respect of any journey by reference to the distance travelled or time elapsed since the start of the journey (or a combination of both).
..................................................

It is just an attempt to maintain the distiction between what is perceived as a Taxi and any alternative vehicle being seen as capable of serving the same purpose. It appears to be an Instrument drafted by a government dept, which remains covertly supportive of the existing monopoly situation.
Regards,
Jeff

As far as london PHV is concerned, how can you have a meter in a car when the driver does not know where he is going?.

_________________
stressed controller!!!

A fair point, but doesn't that apply to many of the other 343 councils in relation to cab drivers?

_________________
IDFIMH

As far as I am aware, every council has some form of knowledge test before a driver can start.
In london it is a very basic map test, the reason its basic?, to make it easier for the imigrants.

_________________
stressed controller!!!

According to DfT figures around two thirds of LAs require a knowledge test for taxi drivers, while for PH it's around half.

Of course, this could mean anything from a proper test to a simple map reading affair.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I wouldn't be without my meter, it goes on at the appointed time and off when i arrive at the destination.
Any "just stop here for a mo" or "she's not ready yet mate, hang on a bit" all add's up.
Also any hold up's above the norm and it comes off stopped and onto tickover, very rare indeed anyone argues with it.
Punters understand it with the cost of fuel nowdays.
My only gripe is paying for it to be tested (£12) when the council cant set our fares.
I've argued till i'm blue in the face that they cant insist on a seal because we dont have to charge by the mile (we do but dont have to) and thats what they test it on, a measured mile, so i say i charge by 11/16 of a mile and they give up and seal it as it is. Next test i'll refuse to have it done, get suspended, appeal, and let a magistrate sort it once and for all.

Quite agree, and TBH I can't understand why or how large PH firms operate without meters.

_________________
IDFIMH

Bug bear of mine as well.

What I have done is ask under what section of any act a council official is allowed to approve my rate, cos by sealing the meter that's what they are doing.

_________________
IDFIMH

Surely its tested as part of the mechanical test of the vehicle?

Have your area not got a question on the vehicle application form stating Make & Model of meter (if fitted)?

We had a case once where one of our mechanics took a PH for test and when the test was over the examiner said he was going to check the meter.

Our mechanic said PH dont need meters, the examiner said he had to test it, so our mechanic took it out and put it in the boot.

The car passed the test without the meter and the meter was fitted later.

CC

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