Taxi Driver Online

Disabled Dundee taxi driver Bruce Matthew was granted a variation of his Wav taxi operators licence at today's council meeting he was represented by the unite union , he can now put on a saloon .

That rather Implies that a WAV's only of any use to a wheelchair User or the Physically able. It's a rum Job if a walking disabled Taxi driver Can't climb into one as will many other Passengers that are in his position. Maybe all WAV's is the wrong solution to a minimal problem.

What's to stop someone able bodied driving his saloon? Or 2 able bodied drivers for that matter, with Mr Matthew just collecting rent?

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It's Dundee.....and that wouldnt ever happen

Although I wonder if there's a few WAV owners thinking about their sore backs?

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

I think too many bad backs and gammy legs contributed to yesterday's decision in Aberdeen.
It wasn't the main reason, but it contributed.

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in my view this has now opened the town to saloon plates,there already a number of existing wav ops about to apply for a sallon plate because of injury,most are legite,the council cant give one person a plate and refuse others,also i cant see how they can restrict the plates to existing wav plate owners,if someone just coming into the trade applys for a plate and tells the council in advance they would not be able to do wheelchair jobs surely they would be entitled to a saloon plate,there is no logic in the council saying(go to expence of putting a wav on dont do wheelchair jobs then eventually we will give you a saloon plate)unless the council were willing to foot the bill for the wav

Association angered by Dundee taxi driver licence decision
The Dundee Hackney Association has criticised the licensing committee's decision to allow a disabled taxi driver the right to change his style of cab.

The committee allowed Bruce Matthew a variation of licence which means he will now be allowed to drive a saloon cab and not the London-style cab he had been driving.

Mr Matthew — whose leg was smashed in an assault six years ago, meaning he finds it difficult to move equipment like wheelchairs — said it will make it easier to refuse to help wheelchair-bound passengers into his car.

However, the move had provoked outrage from the association, which claims Mr Matthew should have continued to be personally exempt from helping disabled passengers instead of changing his car.

Chairman Erik Thoresen said: ''We think it's all wrong and this licence should not have been granted. If he has a saloon car does that mean he's exempt from helping people put stuff into the boot of that?''

Mr Thoresen said Mr Matthew should have remained in the London-style TX2 car he was driving previously and continued to explain to people he was physically unable to help.

He added: ''If we've got to refuse someone in a wheelchair you expect to explain to them why you can't. Some places have stickers on the windscreen stating 'sorry I can't help.'

''He can continue to drive a wheelchair-accessible vehicle but still have an exemption to not push people in.''

The group is now challenging the committee's decision, but convener Stewart Hunter said it is a wasted effort.

''They've no right to appeal. We have a strict policy but we are allowed in exceptional circumstances (to make variations),'' he said.

''It isn't a decision we take lightly and it would be difficult for anyone to come in and get a variation. The evidence we were given (in Mr Matthew's case) shows it will make a significant difference to him.''

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee ... ision.html

It's a bit harsh challenging it.

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

Someone new comming into the trade would probably not get a badge because if they can't do wheelchair jobs the could be classe as not fit to do the job.
What is the definition of "not fit and proper"

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Grandad,

So what if it does, should not a Taxi driver with a disability be afforded the same right to work as any other person with a disability by way of modernising their work space if required.

It's pointless.

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They can't restrict the plates to existing WAV owners. That would be thrown out by the first Sheriff who looked at it.

Aberdeen opened this bucket of worms last year and ended up inundated with every bad back, gammy leg and dodgy ticker in the city.
They also discovered very quickly that they couldn't restrict who drove the saloon taxi either.

Now we're going 100% WAV.

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I did allude to this.....but I got slated

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

This can be knocked on the head by appealing to a sheriff as well, if a driver has been granted a saloon licence due to his disability, and the council then force him or her to buy a WAV instead they could be in breach of the disability act

Look on the brightside if the area is still regulated, less WAV's less 2 rides going in one car