Taxi Driver Online

'Chip and pin' plan to keep cabbies safe


Chip and pin machines could be installed in taxis in Preston

Taxi passengers could be asked to pay fares by chip and pin in a bid to make drivers feel safer.

Police want to reduce the amount of cash being carried by cabbies following a recent series of robberies in Preston.

It is just one of a range of measures being discussed by police, taxi bosses and council chiefs in light of three attacks on drivers in four days last month.

And the Evening Post revealed earlier this month that there have been more than 300 attacks on drivers in Preston in the past 12 months, including thefts and assaults.

Now a range of safety measures are being discussed, including customers paying by credit or debit card instead of cash.

It would cost drivers around £50 to install the equipment in their cabs and then a further £30 a month to run.

Town Hall chiefs are also looking at applying for funding for CCTV for cabs, which costs around £500 per car.

And it has also been suggested that plastic 'shields' could be installed in private hire cars, as well as hackney carriages, to protect drivers from passengers. They cost around £250 each.

Another idea is for drivers to carry personal attack alarms or 'locator' alarms, which are linked to a central base to allow the driver to be tracked on his journey.

Mark Selley, secretary of the Preston Hackney Carriage Association, said: "Our customers should have the right to pay by means other than cash, but it just comes down to the cost.

"It won't be cheap for drivers to install chip and pin machines. I should imagine drivers would be keen to do it if there was some contribution to costs."

Last week, advice was issued to 730 licensed drivers in Preston, reminding them of steps they can take to increase personal safety.

Mike Thorpe, head of licensing at Preston Council, will meet with police chiefs and bosses from Millers Taxis on Monday to discuss the latest ideas.

He said: "We issued the government guidance to reduce risk and we're now looking to see if we can get any other measures in place to protect drivers."

Two men, each charged with two taxi robberies in Preston, have been remanded in custody until January.

Lee Muir, 20, of Burnslack Road, Ribbleton and Kevin Murphy, 24, of Lady Acre, Bamber Bridge, Preston, were charged in connection with a robbery in Miller Road, Ribbleton and in relation to an incident in St Paul's Square, Preston.

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

As sensible as it may seem it's just another expense to drivers that can ill afford anymore regular expenditure



Nice move hope they get it

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