deltastaff wrote:
I'm merely contributing an opinion I have formed through first hand observation. No matter how distasteful you clearly find the notion of 24 hour supervision I believe it has been a defining factor in generating and maintaining our customers.
I don't believe I offered an opinion on Delta Cars 24-hour driver supervision, in fact it was the furthest thought from my mind. How you run your system is neither here nor there to me and I suspect that sentiment is echoed by most on TDO.
With regard to your reference that you are merely contributing an opinion I would just like to say that unlike some other forums TDO welcomes all opinions, constructive or otherwise?
I'm going to turn this debate a full 360 degrees and get back on track to the questions I asked regarding Taxi and Private hire driver quality controls. I think I should point out that apart from your own little acre in Sefton there is a big wide world out there consisting of 343 licensing authorities and some 279,734 Taxi and Private hire drivers, of which some 11,000 or more ply their trade on Merseyside.
You conveniently highlighted the fact that a proportion of your drivers haven't got a clue about bylaws, conditions and knowledge of the 1976 act and that you regularly give them advice over the radio? I suspect 99% of the national Taxi and Private hire trade is sailing in the same boat as many of your drivers.
Information already available on this site will show it's not only unlicensed drivers that are taking advantage of vulnerable members of the public but also many of those who are licensed. Quality control of drivers might be meaningless to some but to me they are an overdue necessity.
Besides not knowing what's expected of them legally, we have people driving around in both cabs and P/H vehicles that can't speak a word of English many of whom can't find their way around without the aid of a satellite navigation system. In large cities especially at weekends we have legions of Private hire drivers blatantly picking up flaggers off the street and in many cases their P/H control room haven't got a clue where they are and probably don't give a dam.
I wonder how many of your drivers carry a copy of the bylaws in their vehicle?
Wasn't Delta one of those P/H operators who advocated scrapping part of the Sefton knowledge test last year? I find it a strange coincidence that the man you claim to have no knowledge of, Mr Trevor Jones, also advocated scrapping the knowledge test. There is every possibility that Mr Jones may have even driven for delta cars in his prime? He certainly holds you in high regard because he has praised your rise to fame on several occasions.
It would seem Delta and Mr Jones, who operates as TG Jones taxis in Seaforth, have a common cause?
At this time last year Mr Jones passed himself off as belonging to the North West Taxi Association. I must admit I am very surprised you haven't heard of him considering he has probably been present at many council trade meetings which may have included representatives from Delta cars. I'm also surprised you don't read the Liverpool Echo as Mr Jones is a regular feature when it concerns the Sefton Taxi trade.
It would also seem the opinion of Mr Jones was in direct conflict with that of Mr. Luke McCormick, of South Sefton Hackney Drivers' Association who said, "Since the introduction of the test and other measures, the standard of drivers and vehicles has improved noticeably. It ensures that new drivers are motivated and have at least a basic understanding of some of the laws that will apply to them".
Tony Holmes, of Southport Owners and Drivers Private Hire Association, was in agreement with Mr McCormick who said, "the test gave the trade a sense of professionalism". So why did Delta and Mr Jones want to scrap the knowledge test? Or did Delta want to scrap the test?
The official reason given was that private hire operators complained they couldn't get enough drivers because the test was too difficult. Perhaps you have another angle as to why private hire operators wanted it scrapped?
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You ask what happens to drivers when they leave Delta? Well in some cases where a driver has been caught numerous times over-charging or swooping on another driver's fare or being rude or aggressive to customers we have withdrawn our radio and parted company. The same drivers continue working on other firms like SRC. Now, has that driver suddenly seen the light and transformed himself into a shining beacon of good customer care, or are SRC just afraid to lose another rental? You decide.
The point is not about Delta policing its own Private hire drivers but about every driver obtaining a high standard of quality as was expressed by Mr Holmes and Mr McCormick, before they ever set foot in a Taxi or Private hire vehicle.
The biggest problem with most drivers is that when they are presented with an unlawful situation they sometimes disregard the consequences because in the main they haven't got a clue what the consequences might be. If your Mr McCaughrey had been aware of the law in respect of having sex with a passenger in his licensed vehicle he might not have ended up in the situation he did and would no doubt still be in possession of his driver's badge.
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And therein lies the fundamental flaw in your argument. Perhaps if he had familiarised himself with the bylaws he might have known it was an offence. Come on Mr JD, when a taxi driver rips off a customer by taking them the long way round how often is it due to a lack of road knowledge and how often is it down to a lack of integrity.
There is no comparison in someone making a wrong decision on the spur of the moment and someone deliberately going out of their way to extort money from passenger by taking them the long way round. Perhaps Mr McCaughrey was unaware he was committing an offence who knows? A person, who deliberately commits an illegal act such as the one you describe, does so knowingly and as such deserves all he gets. However, if every driver passed a quality control test there would be no need for excuses because every driver would know the rules and legalities associated with the job. If drivers failed to understand then they should not be issued a license until they did, it's as simple as that?
Standards need to be raised, whether it takes six months or six years, it has to be done?
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It's a beautiful notion you have that human beings only do wrong because they don't know what's right but it's one I just don't subscribe to.
You assume too much, I have never offered that notion, what I have offered is the assumption that education goes some way to making a person aware of the consequences of their actions should they ever contemplate committing an offence? I don't see why the Taxi trade should be exempt from obtaining a small degree of some of the quality, which other industries take for granted.
The main problem for some including operators such as Delta and Mr Jones not forgetting members of the public is that quality driver control will probably bring about driver shortages. Some may see this as the answer to current restrictions brought about through quantity control of vehicle licenses. I have no doubt that a one tier system with stringent quality driver controls will have a similar effect to quantity controls, with the emphasis being on driver control rather than the quantity control of vehicles. This will only work if as I said, "the controls are stringent enough to deliver a high standard".
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Do you think on 20th February 1994 that 20 year old stabbed a taxi driver in the back with a fish filleting knife before kicking him in the face and setting fire to him because nobody had pointed out to the poor misguided youth that it was wrong?
Rather an extreme and unworthy example considering the perpetrator had made a premeditated decision to rob the Taxi driver and knife him in the back. It’s the same scenario you offered in respect of the driver who deliberately takes the longest route from A to B. Both parties know they are committing an offence and no doubt they have considered the risk before they commit that offence but perhaps the reality of getting caught and the consequences that ensue, were perhaps only minor considerations? The point about quality driver controls as I have said is that the driver understands all the rules and regulations not just the ones that might land him in court? From your position it would "appear" you don't want quality driver standards but that’s your prerogative?
You made a statement the other day regarding a test case in Liverpool where you said Delta secured the services of top QC's to fight this supposed test case. I exposed the case as being nothing more than a run of the mill illegal plying for hire charge tried in the Magistrates court. Considering your penchant for accuracy people will no doubt look at that statement and wonder why you gilded the lily? The excuse you offered after you were exposed as being wrong will be tempered by the fact that your original statement on the matter was written emphatically and set out as being precise.
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I agree, it was a moment of weakness during a painful separation with his wife. It was criminally stupid but not criminal. Now that he has put that behind him and is making a succesful go of things with his wife again I am sure he will be so very grateful that you have resurrected the issue just to get in a cheap shot. You disappoint me Sir.
History cannot be altered and it certainly cannot be hidden, no matter how painful it might be to you, Delta or the individual who was naïve enough to break the law in respect of having sexual intercourse in lieu of payment in the back of a licensed private hire vehicle. I know nothing about the case only what I have read in the press but I'm quite sure the indiscretion of this driver was new to many on this site and even many in the Taxi trade.
This site has a reputation for being candid and it does not bow to anyone in respect of reporting the news, no matter how old that news might be or how uncomfortable it may be to some?
In respect of the court verdict I am undecided if the girl gave her consent or she didn't? I was not in court and I do not know all the facts, so under the circumstances it would be unwise for me offer an opinion. History shows many examples of miscarriages of justice where juries have returned wrong decisions in both innocent and guilty verdicts. In this case the Victim and Accused are the only two people who know where the truth lies, regardless of the Jury's decision?
Did she or did she not give her consent, it’s a hard question for any jury to answer?
Regards
JD
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