Taxi Driver Online

Rule-breaking Worcester taxi drivers dodge action

MORE than 100 taxi drivers in Worcester have flouted the rules in the last year – but none has been punished for it. Now the city council is to tighten up its penalty system after critics said it is “not working” in weeding out rogue drivers.

One driver was caught over-ranking at The Cross four times in a year – with city licensing chiefs admitting he was “sticking two fingers up” at the authority and getting away with it. Back in 2010 the council launched a new penalty points system to drive up standards. Under the rules, anyone who amasses 20 points is called before a licensing meeting to explain their actions and can be struck off.

But not a single driver has appeared before the committee in three years, partly because penalty points expire after 12 months. Carl Phillips, of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, said: “The current system is clearly not working as effectively as it should. “No driver has come before a licensing sub-committtee for getting 20 penalty points, so it does need improvement. “In the last seven weeks 20 drivers have been given points and during the last year, 102 drivers have been given points.” In the previous two years 145 drivers were handed points, but avoided a committee hearing.

Under the changes, from July points will stay on a driver’s record for two years and 15 points will be the trigger point for a meeting with a punishment panel, rather than the current 20. During the meeting of the licensing committee, some politicians said they believed enforcement is not good enough. Councillor Simon Cronin said: “The reason insufficient points are dished out is because of a lack of enforcement – I haven’t seen a licensing officer at The Cross for two years.”

Mr Phillips replied: “Rest assured, members of Worcestershire Regulatory Services are there on a constant basis – three or four times a week we patrol that rank.” Coun Jo Hodges said: “This scheme is meant to allow us to identify a small number of drivers who routinely flout regulations, but the fact no drivers have come before us tells me it’s not doing that. “We need to do something as it’s not serving its purpose.”

Coun Paul Denham, the chairman, said: “One driver got 16 points in a year – in my view he’s sticking two fingers up to this committee, and hasn’t come before us.” So far only over-ranking and not wearing badges have led to points being issued.

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IDFIMH

sounds like it works as well as ours you get penalty points for administrative mistakes like forgetting to present documents on time but drivers who cherry pick park on the rank for up to an hour a day get away scot free !!!!

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

What the hell is a "punishment panel" its not for any council to Punish any one that for the courts not councils.

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C. Oakes


The Hackney Association Ltd
bbha@btinternet.com

And if no drivers hit the new trigger targets will they reduce them to 10 points over three years, and then 5 over four etc.?

Or heres a mad idea, all drivers know the rules, if they get caught breaking them then stick them before the panel straight away. Or no time limits, two warnings and the third time you're out.

Time to get tough with Worcester taxi drivers

A FORMER mayor of Worcester is calling for draconian action to regulate city taxi drivers, saying it is time to reduce their numbers and ban those who break the rules.

David Clark, a former licensing chief who helped create the heavily-criticised penalty points system, has admitted it was a mistake and says it will never work in improving standards.

The former Conservative politician has sent your Worcester News a list of the new rules he wants to see implemented, including:

Any new taxi driver must have five years’ experience on UK roads.



A reduction on the current tally of 288 licensed taxis in Worcester.

New rules banning any Hackney carriages from waiting at the kerbside to pick people up, forcing them to use ranks.

Hackneys waiting on the kerb should be suspended for a week if caught once, suspended for a month if caught twice and booted out altogether if they are caught a third time.

Any cabs older than five years should be retired.

Mr Clark says his controversial blueprint is draconian, but wants it given serious consideration by the city council’s licensing committee.

“This is part of an endemic problem that has plagued the city for more than 20 years and it really is time something was done to solve the problem.”

He also says the penalty points system can never work, no matter how much tinkering is done and wants it axed.

As your Worcester News reported on Tuesday, more than 100 drivers have been caught flouting the rules in the last year, but none have been punished.

Drivers caught breaking the rules are given penalty points for offences, ranging from two points for obstruction to eight points for more serious breaches like plying for hire, but none have appeared before a council sub-committee.

As of this month the system is being tightened up so points stay on a driver’s record for two years, rather than one, and 15 points will trigger a sub-committee appearance, instead of 20.

Councillor Paul Den-ham, the current licensing committee chairman, said: “It’s a minority bucking the system that need to be dealt with – the majority are perfectly law-abiding.

“I do think the new penalty points system should work better, but we’ll have to wait and see.

“It would not be legal to take on some of David’s suggestions – the only way we can revoke a driver’s licence is if they are deemed not fit and proper.”

City taxi driver Asif Ali, aged 49, said: “Yet again the drivers get a hard time. We just want to get on with making a living.”

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IDFIMH

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