Taxi Driver Online

Call for minicabs to have warning signs

A LEADING Colchester taxi driver is urging action to protect customers from potentially dangerous nlicensed cabbies. Tony Saunders, chairman of Colchester Hackney Carriage Association, made his call after two women were allegedly attacked by a cowboy cabbie, plying his trade illegally in the town.

Hackney carriages are licensed to pick up fares at the roadside, but private hire cabs, sometimes called minicabs, can only pick up fares who have booked a ride in advance. Both are licensed by Colchester Council. Mr Saunders wants the council to insist minicabs are prominently marked with notices warning they are not allowed to pick up fares on the street.

It follows an incident, in which two women in their twenties got into a car in the town centre, believing it to be a taxi. They were allegedly assaulted in the Villa Road area of Stanway.

Mr Saunders said: “I would like them to make it a licensing condition they have to print on the side that they will only pick up pre-booked passengers. “That way people will know they can only get into those which have a taxi light on the top. They should only be getting into cars on the street if they are hackney carriages, which have a licence number on a plate at the back.”

He added he had been shocked and saddened to read what had happened to the two women. He said: “If there were signs on the side of the minicabs, I really think it would make people more aware they should not be getting into them, unless they had been pre-booked.”

Colin Daines, the council’s licensing officer, agreed it was a good suggestion and said he would raise it the next time officials met taxi drivers. He added: “It needs to be made clear both minicabs and hackney carriages are licensed by Colchester Council. “The drivers have all been Criminal Records Bureau-checked and are all perfectly safe.

“In this instance, it was an unlicensed car. People should be making sure they do not get into a car at the side of the road unless it has a light on the top, or has been pre-booked. “When they have pre-booked a cab, people should ask the driver the name of the person he has come for.”

Tim Young, councillor responsible for community safety, agreed Mr Saunders’ suggestion was “a very sensible idea”.

* A 50-year-old man from the Colchester area was arrested and bailed without charge until next month.

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IDFIMH

So the LO says the vehicle was unlicensed.

The "leading" driver thinks markings on licensed cars is the issue.

And the councillor agrees.

Presumably they mean a taxi light and not a blue light, green light or orange light of the road works vehicles. Perhaps whilst they're having their meeting about proper signage for the phvs they should also discuss the merits of having purpose built taxis instead of saloon cars with lights on the top. That would certainly save the public being confused

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

Perhaps they are going to insist on all non taxis on having signage indicating they aren't taxis.

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IDFIMH