Taxi Driver Online

Watford Borough Council agrees taxi fare rises and 'knowledge test' revamp


Passengers using the town’s fleet of taxis will now be asked to pay more for their journeys.

Watford Borough Council, responsible for licensing and regulating the cost of Hackney Carriage cabs, approved a series of fare increases on Monday night.

After prolonged pressure from drivers, concerned by rising costs and the increased competition from newly qualified drivers, the council’s licensing committee also agreed to introduce a more stringent knowledge test.

It will require applicants to demonstrate competency in the English language (demonstrated with an appropriate certificate), and will ask them to complete four written tests on local geography, regulations, mental arithmetic and the Highway Code.

Drivers will also be asked to attend a disability awareness course.

Fare increases, the first since 2007, will be implemented as follows:

• a new minimum £2.20 fare (up from £2)
  
• new double charges for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
  
• an increase in maximum soiling charge to £50

In real terms the cost of a one mile journey in council licensed cabs is likely to increase from £3 to £3.60, rising to £5.40 at night – still considerably less than comparable trips in London.

Shafiq Ahmed, chairman of the Watford Hackney Carriage Drivers’ Association, welcomed the tariff increase.

He said: “We have not raised our tariffs since 2007 and have been very patient with the public. But our costs have been increasing year on year and we could not wait any longer. It was getting to the point where we couldn’t make ends meet so we had to do something.”

Mr Ahmed, however, warned the alterations to the knowledge test may not go far enough to ensure passengers the quality service they deserve or to decrease the numbers of people applying for licenses.

He added: “This is a step on the right direction but we favoured something more like the London system, where you really have to know your way around. It is still too easy for any old Tom, Dick or Harry to set themselves up as a taxi driver.”

Private hire vehicles are included in the knowledge test reforms but not in the price rises.

source: http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/

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

Perhaps this will help them to stop driving around central London 'empty'.