Taxi Driver Online

I don't think that everybody appreciates what may well happen when this comes about in their vain attempts of being superior because they drive a taxi, but, hey they soon will especially in the larger towns and cities

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It certainly does pay - I mean its not as if one national organisation has actually paid their admin for two years now

That aside - and I'm only guessing here - my guess is that the HC trades response to the LC from the provinces went entirely around limitation of numbers and plate values..........I'd also wager there was very little about technology and very little justification for pointing out why cross border PH is a really daft idea.

And I'm guessing again - but I reckon the reason why the LC has actually given ground on the deregulation argument is down to the efforts of the HC trade in their response - I'd also wager the reason they see no issue with cross border PH is because the HC trade failed to make valid arguments.

My final guess - is that the LC see PH as a choice a customer makes when they pick up a telephone and dial a number - I think they think - if the customer gets a really crappy service they wont call the PH company again - because that is how the market system works.

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

I would be so ashamed if I had anything to do with creating a new act that will virtually turn thousands and thousands of private hire drivers into slaves...... the big companies will all eat up all the small companies and then drivers will have nowhere to go, but to them.....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Have you turned into sussex during your short winter break?

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

No... I believe that people should be paid what they're worth ... I also believe that if a person is prepared to invest in his job, then it is only right that he has the ability to make more, if a person has a financial commitment he'll make sure he does his job right....... and I also believe that if you get something for nothing that"s exactly what it's worth

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

There are people striving to sort that.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

It's a shame you don't accept PH members you'd have a lot more money to spend like the NPHA and the unions that serve both sides of the trade

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I think you're right - I also think people have the freedom to choose.

Perhaps if the tax credit system - which appears to play a major part of the minicab hidden economy - were changed you might get what you hope to achieve - but in fairness that isn't within the remit of the LC - although I actually think they wish it were. Perhaps the pseudo employed status needs addressed - this to is something the LC did mention is dispatches? This has been something the taxi trade has never put any true pressure on - until the past 18 months.

The fact is - be it HC or PH - if drivers don't think they are getting paid their worth they will leave - London's turnover of drivers bears testament to that.

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

and its appreciated

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

I think the Welsh Gov made a good point in relation to barrel scraping standards;

WELSH GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
While there is merit in the Commission’s argument in circumstances in which the consumer has access to competing private hire services, that is not always the case. In more rural parts of Wales, for example, it is unlikely that passengers will have access to more than one nearby operator. Those persons should not have to accept potentially poor standards because there is no alternative provider.

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IDFIMH

And Welsh Gov response.

PROVISIONAL PROPOSAL 54
Licensing authorities should no longer have the power to restrict taxi numbers.
QUESTION 55
What temporary or permanent problems might arise if licensing authorities lost the ability to restrict numbers? Under current legislation, licensing authorities have the option to limit taxi numbers, but only in the absence of “unmet demand”. Restricted numbers limit competition and so consumer choice. Quantity controls also create a market for taxi licences. In some parts of England, there is evidence that a taxi licence can command up to £60,000. An as yet unimplemented provision of the Equality Act 2010 would further restrain authorities’ scope to limit numbers by preventing the refusal of a licence to a wheelchair-accessible taxi. As at the end of February 2012, some 93 licensing authorities had quantity controls in place. Approximately 21,000 vehicles are currently operating in areas with quantity controls, accounting for just over ¼ of all taxis operating in England and Wales. Lack of provision can push consumers into taking unlicensed vehicles. Taxi representative groups have highlighted the potential benefits to the public through restricting numbers which flow from a more stable and better paid trade. However, those could also be achieved through regulation targeted at ensuring appropriate quality standards. On balance, the Commission is proposing that arguments in favour of deregulation, and for the abolition of quantity controls, are most convincing.

WELSH GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
We endorse this proposal.

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IDFIMH

Thankfully the legal buck stops with the operator.

That said if a driver and/or vehicle are iffy, then they can also be done.

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IDFIMH

The Welsh government contradict themselves;

persons should not have to accept potentially poor standards because there is no alternative provider.

achieved through regulation targeted at ensuring appropriate quality standards

They can't have it both ways.

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

Not a fan of restricting PH numbers, but if I was to lobby on such an issue I would ask the LC why when they say in respect of taxis;

We no longer recommend abolishing quantity controls. We initially proposed that local authorities should lose the ability to limit the number of taxis licensed in their area on the basis of economic theory, whereby the market could be left to determine the appropriate number of vehicles. The weight of evidence received during consultation and further comparative research have led us to change this key recommendation in order to allow licensing authorities to limit taxi numbers should they wish to do so.

Why that also doesn't apply to PHVs.

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IDFIMH

I think its typical cab trade - in being very lucky to persuade the LC that locals should have some ability to limit taxi numbers - to change their minds which is a minor miracle given the LC's original position - they now believe to limit PH is a natural progression.

It doesn't seem to occur that the over bearing local rules adopted by councils, very often on the suggestion of the taxi trade towards private hire - are the rules that created the situation with out of town taxis. Councils have adopted rules which make the taxi trade practically indistinguishable from the private hire trade and then bleat on about the public not knowing the difference.

The taxi trade ignorance of private hire is truly remarkable - the ignorance of the London cab trade especially so - I still find myself talking to cab drivers and trying to explain that every PHV isn't a simple minicab.

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