Taxi Driver Online

2 simple questions.

(1) Do you think that PH numbers should be limited

(2) do you think that a street test should be brought in for PH

the reason i ask these questions is that the quality of car and driver here is dropping at a alarming rate and has a knock on effect to buisness.

No.


Yes. We have had one for years and it does keep the standards high.

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Yes to both questions.
you also missed out should they be age restricted and the answer is yes.

If your council restricts the number of hacks is it any wonder that there is an abundance of PH.
make a formal complaint to the council and see what can be done

1) No, and will never happen IMO.

2) Yes, and can't think of a good reason why councils don't.

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IDFIMH

1 No, and there's no provision in the legislation for it, unlike taxis.

2 Yes, but there's no provision in the legislation for it, unlike taxis.

Skippy, since you often quote the best practice guidance, you should be aware that it doesn't like either the age rule ('arbitrary and disproportionate') or PH knowledge tests ('unnecessarily onerous').

Restricted hackney numbers will always produce an abundance of PH. The only way to reduce PH numbers is to de-restrict Hackneys.

There is a particular market of a particular size that produces demand that needs to be met by 'x' number of vehicles. The market will supply those vehicles to meet the demand, regardless of whether they are Hackneys or PH.

Neighbouring authorities, Echo15's restricted authority has an abundance of PH with the two largest operators being PH. Mine, de-restricted, has barely any PH with the lagest company operating exclusively Hackneys.

This is a refreshing change, a wish list. Yawn. Deja Vu all over again. (Yogi Berra)

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Former taxi driver

1 No

2 No, the reason being that if ALL vehicles now have to be licensed, there are firms (like mine) who only do the longer distance work, so a reasonable knowledge of motorway networks, airport layouts (eg which airline uses which terminal).

Now if there is to be a knowledge test (which is a good idea in theory) maybe the applicant should have the choice of a Local roads test or a wider area test.

I think there should be a basic english speaking test.

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Fae Fife, i dont know what condition the PH are in up there, but in some areas they are complete sheds,
The best way would be that they have to go through exactly what a hack has to, and the same licence fee's, and have meters set to the same rate, the cars must be a certain size and CC, and be able to seat 4 passengers
or more and all drivers and owners checked and vet-ed

Maybe its about time that the Licensing officers took responsibility for the cars that they actually license.In areas that have strict and active officers standards are maintained and enforced whereas in areas of lax LO`s standards slip.

If officers were held to account for standards in their licensing areas then maybe things would improve across the board.

Wouldn't that make them Hacks?

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Grandad,

The thing is that in areas with a quality licensing regime the practical difference between a Hack and a PH becomes simply how one is booked, ie either with the driver or with an Operator and the end result for the public is a quality transport service both hack and PH.

It is allowed to deteriorate by a low standard of licensing and enforcement... Vehicles which cant be easily identified as PH, drivers who dont know their way around or cant communicate with their customers, bogus cabs working because the chance of getting caught is virtually nil, ancient heaps being plated, LO's who try to raise revenue by badging as many drivers as they can.etc.etc.etc.


Brighton is an excellent example of a quality Licensing regime and no I dont work in Brighton.

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Our safety is Paramount