Taxi Driver Online

TWENTY-SIX more Glasgow cabbies have been taken off the road after refusing to go on a compulsory customer care course.

A further five were warned that failure to sit the course in the near future will also see them get their licences suspended. And licensing bosses warned taxi drivers if they flouted the bans or failed to take the new training course seriously they would be in trouble.

It follows last month's ban on 18 drivers from operating in the city for the same reason. At yesterday's meeting of the city council's licensing complaints committee just two cabbies bothered to show up. The others, two taxi drivers and 24 private hire drivers, are not allowed to operate for the duration of their licences, some of which do not expire until mid-July.

Since last October all Glasgow's 6000 taxi and private hire drivers must sit the mandatory one-day course as a condition of their licences when they are due for renewal. The training includes improving courtesy to all passengers, dealing with foreign visitors and basic first-aid, through to improving services for disabled travellers.

Since the last raft of suspensions a number of drivers have contacted the Evening Times, claiming the course, which costs up to £80, does no more than teach them how to "suck eggs" and that banned drivers would continue to drive regardless.

But the council's licensing convener Malcolm McLean has insisted the authority is not operating as a toothless tiger. Councillor McLean said: "We are prepared to listen to reasons why people have not completed the course but if they don't show their licences will be suspended."

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IDFIMH

improving first aid, nice to see were now para medics

Captain Cab

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