Taxi Driver Online

Taxi licence increase 'dangerous'

One driver said he has been forced to re-train as a sport therapist

A group which represents Reading taxi drivers has said its members are being forced to work dangerously long hours.

The taxi association claimed a 50% rise in the number of licensed cabs has squeezed trade with drivers having to wait up to an hour for a fare.

Reading Borough Council will consider limiting the amount of Hackney licences it hands out at a meeting later.

Councillor Tony Page blamed the problems on the economic downturn rather than an increase in taxis.

But driver Keith Johnson, secretary of Reading Taxi Association, said: "People are being pushed to work such long hours to pay for the commitments they have taken out they are going to be tired.

"I don't want to see my drivers on the road tired and carrying the public."

'Alternative money'

Driver Andrey Wasylciw, who has been in the trade for 14 years, said: "At the moment there are too many cabs on the road to make money.

"I have been re-training as a sports therapist and I qualify in June and hopefully I can make some alternative money."

Councillor Page said he had sympathy for the drivers.

"There was pressure for more licences," he added.

"The Hackney carriage trade recognised that the original number of 120, which had been fixed for a number of years, needed to be increased.

"I think the real problem now is the economic downturn."

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

Of course there is people are losing their jobs all over and one of the first things they think of is becoming a taxi driver until they get something better

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