Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers 'to fight plans for penalty points'

Taxi drivers in Cambridge have clocked up hundreds of complaints new figures show. The news comes as Cambridge City Council looks at introducing a new ‘penalty points system’ for its licensed taxi drivers.

A consultation was launched after more than three official complaints a week were made for bad attitudes and dodgy driving. The authority now has to decide if it can implement the system – but face a battle with taxi drivers.

More than 500 complaints have been made in the last three years, according to data released using the Freedom of Information Act. Drivers defended the service they provide and vowed to take on the council in the courts if it introduces the system.

Karl Stamper, a Cambridge taxi driver who sits on The Meeting of Minds panel of unions which includes the GMB Professional Taxi and Private Hire Drivers Union, said: “The majority of taxi drivers do a sterling job and at the end of the day, this is just a small percentage of complaints from thousands of fares we pick up a year.

“I am not saying some of us don’t get it wrong sometimes but the majority are doing a fantastic job. “We believe this penalty points system is illegal anyway and will fight it through the courts if we have to.” In 2010/11, there were a total of 175 complaints made against licensed taxi drivers to the council.

Driving-related complaints totalled 86 with another 54 for attitude and behaviour of the drivers. Another three were a ‘police matter’ and two licences were revoked. The previous year the total hit 208 with 84 for driving and 43 for attitude. Four licences were revoked another was suspended and two were surrendered by the drivers.

From 2008/09 the number of gripes was down to 143 with 81 for bad driving and 19 for behaviour. One licence was revoked and six formal warnings were given. The consultation closed on September 11 and a council spokesman told the News the licensing committee will make a decision on the penalty points system at a meeting on October 24.

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