Taxi Driver Online

my comment about a kebab shop was a thinly-veiled dig at some businesses who run illegal/unlicensed "taxis" from the back of a kebab shop (the underside of the cars being cleaner than the kebab prep areas), it wasnt aimed or directed at you

as for only the UK having a 2 tier system, quite possible but thats our system.... we have to live with it

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

As far the public is concerned in the UK they, by a huge majority, think that a vehicle with 8 seats or less, that they book or hail to take them from point A to point B is understood by the generic term Taxi. Have you ever heard someone go to a hotel concierge and ask them to 'call me a private hire vehicle please'?

You are trying to push water up hill by demanding a change to the public's interpretation of your industry.

Claiming 100% rights to the term Taxi, when in fact you should be refering to yourself as a hackney carriage, is really futile. If I really wanted to stir up a hornets nest I could accuse Hackneys of trying to steal the work of the PH trade by answering phones and taking telephone bookings, historically Hackneys should stay sat on ranks and work the streets, doing 'your bit' of the industry.

The picture at the top of this thread is, in my opinion, is wrong and the local authority should be demanding it is removed. However my understanding is that it would only be legally wrong if the council has conditions/policy that prohibit the word taxi appearing on a PH vehicle.

That should set a few off. For the sake of clarity I am a licensed hackney carriage driver who gains 90% of my income from telephone bookings (Private Hire work).

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Tom, Joe Public dont even limit seating to 8, ive had folk ring for a 15 seater taxi.....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

The more Stickers that some LA's insist that PH must use, the more they start to look like a saloon or MPV Taxi.

I'd rather have a nice discrete plate front and back and the rest of the car unstickered and with no advertising shown externally, It looks better and causes no confusion because I'm always booked before I arrive.

Has anyone who runs or works in a booking office ever had a punter ring up and ask for a private hire vehicle?

I would suggest it happens less than one in a thousand times.

And has anyone ever been convicted of sending a private hire vehicle when a taxi was asked for.

In short the word 'taxi' is generic to our trade, now the dinosaurs might not like it, but it's hear to stay.

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IDFIMH

Yup..Just as sure as getting the Hoover out might involve using using a Dyson or a Vax.

and not all clear sticky tape is Sellotape

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

If a Hack base sends a HC when asked for a cab.....der....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Does not matter a stuff what the customer asks for as they can use the term, Hackney, Taxi, Minicab, Car, Vehicle, Driver or Someone...they, unlike we in the trade, are not bound by the use of the word Taxi or Private hire and can ask for whatever they so wish.

If there is a venue or an area that is popular and there is cause for more than one phv to be there at any given time how does the punter know if the vehicle parked up is indeed a licensed vehicle or if it is a licensed vehicle it is the one that has been sent to them? I know they can check the back to see if there is a plate on it or they could ask the driver but not all drivers are honest and will take whomever asks them. It also puts young girls at risk if they approach a vehicle thinking it is the one they rang for but it isn't. Whilst I appreciate there is no need for the word taxi on a phv there should certainly be something on the side of the vehicle identifying it as such. The above picture doesn't tell the punter anything without having to ask the driver, therein lays the risk

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

The term "Taxi" is clearly defined in Scottish law. Nothing generic about it

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

ISTR the word "taxi" is also defined in English law. However, look up the word "taxi" in the Oxford dictionary and see what it says. Common usage of a word can eventually negate the legal definition of a word as language changes over time.

Has ANYONE ever phoned to book a hackney carriage or a hansom cab in the last 50 years? I suspect not as most will ask for a cab or a taxi! No amount of licencing, laws or legal terms will put the archetypal "young girl on the street" at any less risk from unlicenced taxi or private hire drivers. After all, how many of those archetypal girls have actually been raped or sexually assaulted by licenced or unlicenced drivers?

I know of at least 2 licenced drivers in my locality who are reportedly disliked by female passengers who are fed up with their sexual innuendos and comments.

Only better enforcement will cut down the unlicenced trade, and that ain't gonna happen in the current economic climate.

im a handsome cabbie....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

winker

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

According to the Law Commission document the the term 'taxi' doesn't appear in any legislation until the 1980 Transport Act. Hardly gives the Hackney carriage trade any historical claims of ownership of the term!

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry