Taxi Driver Online

Well since these rules were introduced in Gateshead it has defiantly caused some uproar hasn't it !
( By saying "I do agree that a vehicle should be no older than 3 years (for the sake of argument) on the grant of its licence." )
I mean let us look at this and the effect it will have on drivers.
If your council requires HC drivers to have wheelchair adapted vehicles to put a suitable vehicle on the road for the first time "on the grant of its licence." it will cost between £15000 and £30000 ????
This will affect existing drivers by either forcing them into debt or making them unemployed.
Is there enough income to be made in this job to justify having this amount of debt standing at your door ?
Was this introduced to benefit public safety or to try and reduce the numbers of cars and drivers ?

My licensing council has an age restriction policy in force that is more acceptable and I can say works fine.
It keeps the appearance of working cars to a high standard but does not devastate family's by incurring huge amounts of debt.
Also who has decided that a 4 or 5 year old vehicle is no longer any good to go on the road on the grant of its licence.
I think you will find that in general MOST cars are still in very good condition at the age of 4 and 5 years.
Remember that the car will still be subject for inspection so if you try to put a car on the road at 4 or 5 years old the vehicle inspector will then determine that it is roadworthy on the grant of its licence.

Look..I am not trying to say OK we will allow the 10 year old vectra on the road as long as it passes an M.O.T and we will open the floodgates so that "chancers" can buy the £200 car and start up as a Taxi or we will allow people to come into the trade and use it as "Stop Gap employment"
Have restrictions but I think they need to be realistic and most of all affordable to existing drivers.

Steve

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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

From January all the executive vehicles will come under private hire won't they?
What about the rates that are charged for say a Brand new Bentley or a maybach? Are you suggesting that these should be charged at taxi rates?

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Grandad,

lol...No far from it !
Just the PH ops send drivers out on jobs and price the jobs.
Sometimes for as little as 50% to what the meter rate would be.
Is this right ?
It encourages argumentative situations with us as HC that do use the given council rates.
I would like to bet if PH operators could only be paid on a % of the drivers income they would stop the silly underpricing that they do.
Lets say if they could only take 20% of a drivers overall weekly takings ! I think they would start to use the meters pretty quick !

Maybe a standard table of fares should apply to all HC and PH .

Steve

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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

But I do sometimes drive outside of my LTP area.

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IDFIMH

So if the fare is non-negotiable then how is a 15% discount compatible with this?



So wouldn't enshrining a specified discount in legislation lead to strife as well, indeed even more conflict than at present?

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

All HC and PH should have a knowledge test. PH to use meters and tariffs should be the same as HC. All HC & PH to use bus lanes

I've always felt that age is too arbitrary a criteria for fitness of a vehicle. We have all seen 3 year old motors which are buckets, and 10 year old motors which are immaculate. Mileage and condition are a much better guide to fitness. Quality, not age.

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

I suggested this so if anyone felt that a discount should be given like on long return journey the max could be 15%.
And this would maybe stop PH ops giving cheaper than chips taxi fares.


Well NO as they would know why the discount would apply and the MAX discount any driver could offer.
Where I am coming from...is that PH offices are running passengers from point A to point B for lets say £2.80 and on the Meter it will cost £5.60.
So the argumentative situations arise when the passenger has to pay double ( the correct fare )....Its hard enough to make a living without PH offices running people around for nothing so that people expect there fare to be nothing all the time.
Point is Use the rates we are given by the councils and only give a small discount in exceptional circumstances.

Infact then dismiss the 15% discount idea if it would cause conflict then..
these are only ideas maybe food for thought.
Simply pay the meter rate period......
But HC and PH should have to abide by the same rule.

Steve

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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Ahh, now theres a fine statement. Its just a shame the dummies have the chance to make changes whereas the likes of the faceless and cowardly JD is a mere keyboard warrior.

FFS FO and play dungeons and dragons

'We cab drivers'....FFS

CC

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

Yes but just look at the changes lol. Changes for who, not the cab trade thats for sure. You Dummies have had the opportunity to effect change or at least propose change for years and what have you come up with? Zilch. If you can't chit then get off the pot and leave it to someone else. The only thing that drives the minority membership of your association is restricting licenses. Thats why the Taxi trade is where it is at the moment.



lol Remember Carlisle?

Perhaps if your membership and the others associated with this meeting of minds exercise had studied legislation they might have come up with some realistic changes, however keep on reading this site we'll show you and the other dummies what needs changing.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

I think this will give US as drivers a chance to show what we really want !
We can say what we want , what we might not agree with and what things will actually improve our trade NATIONALLY.....
Look at this as an opportunity to voice your opinion.
May it be right or wrong we have the right to say the way we feel.
We have Drivers from all over the UK viewing this thread so this gives the people making decisions a chance to see what the majority of drivers want ( been part of an association or not ).....
If you don't post and voice your opinion now, how else are folk supposed to know how we feel.

I think this could be a good thread.

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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

Agreed !!! 100%
The number plate / registration is irrelevant.
I think if the car passes a strict test and its overall condition is mint inside and out why on earth not allow it on the road as a means of public transport ????
Are we really saying our Council appointed testers can not spot an unsafe vehicle ? And they are so easy going that they should not be trusted ?
I evolve from the motor trade and I believe I can make a 8 year old vehicle on par with a 3 year old car....
The words "MINT CONDITION should be determined by the vehicle inspector.
Maybe when the vehicle reaches a certain age then it should be subject to more frequent tests ? I am sure drivers would be more willing to pay for an additional test or two rather than have to be in debt for a long time.
You must remember ALL defective parts on a vehicle are replaceable until the overall vehicle structure becomes beyond economical repair, this day and age I estimate approx 7 years to be realistic.
Should similar age restrictions be in force for Busses that carry 53+ passengers ?
Steve

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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

I think you will find that in Gateshead the aspect that has caused uproar is the 8 years and its off policy .................... not the no older than 3 years upon grant aspect.

Have you thought of asking the question "why drivers are not making enough money" ............... instead of lowering standards to accomodate the chancers, the trade should be looking to lift standards .................. and then those that want to conduct their businesses in a professional manner will be able to make more and the chancers will move onto pastures new.

Its stange that I was working fewer hours for more money 10 years ago .................. but that was when people had to pay to enter the trade, and people paid because there was good money to be earned.

I believe that people should look further ahead than tomorrow .............

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

GA, the main reason folk are earning less is the number of PH that have come on the roads, over the last few years, due to there being no number restrictions on them, yet there are still councils that restrict the number of hacks, and the PH just under cut the fares leaving the hacks sitting on the ranks longer, the same applies in unrestricted areas as well.
I know we have to make a living but by having the fares to high is putting people off using the hacks as much as they would like, there is only so much money going around in some of the poorer areas of the UK.
I personally would rather do 2 cheaper fares and earn more than 1 dearer fare to the same place, for example, 2 runs at £3.00 or 1 run at £4.00.
Taxis are a luxury in some parts of the UK, or a second thought if there are loads of PH.
it would be better for all if PH where scraped altogether then we would not be in this state

So if we all became HC how would that change the situation ............... a metered fare is the maximum you can charge NOT the amount you have to charge.

The offices with the work would retain drivers .................... even if their prices are lower than the councils prescribed rate .................. the only real difference would be that instead of the plate stating Private Hire it would say Hackney Carriage.

Don't see the point in single tier .................. neither benefit to the public or ourselves.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

No its the 3 year on....without a doubt !


Yes simply because the council have allowed the vast number of cars to be licensed.

Yes there was not as many drivers at the time !

Agree !
Next year we could all be fooked as drivers if we do not think National instead of regional.

By the way...This is my opinion . ( dint worry I still love you )...
This is a discussion board and unfortunately this has been a point for discussion.
But......If you wear your best dress on Tuesday and I will wear my best jeans we will easily sort this out.....
Just kidding mate.....see ya Tuesday...

You Keent....Steve

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The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.