Taxi Driver Online

Stoke-on-Trent taxi drivers spark road rage

PASSENGERS have made hundreds of complaints against taxi drivers – for incidents ranging from dangerous driving, abusive behaviour and stopping to pick up a woman for sex. More than 500 official complaints have been logged about cabbies to Stoke-on-Trent City Council in just two years.

The scores of accusations have sparked 90 internal investigations at the authority – which is responsible for issuing licences to both Hackney carriage and private hire drivers. Details of the complaints include drivers speeding, displaying 'lewd' behaviour and charging inflated fares.

Claims also include a passenger smelling cannabis in a taxi, a driver running over a lady's shopping, and another refusing to allow a guide dog on board. One complaint was about a driver peering down a woman passenger's top.

Fifty-one drivers were warned about their conduct, 20 had their licences suspended and 15 were revoked.
Regular taxi users have welcomed the action taken by the council.

Architect Richard Dawson, aged 27, of Norton, said: "It's right to take action especially if a minority are having an impact on the decent, well established taxi firms in Stoke-on-Trent." Ema Lambert, aged 30, of Milton, said: "The prices charged at the weekend are ridiculous. I agree that some will speed too so I am not surprised by the amount of complaints the council has received. It is concerning."

Insurance worker Jeff Mountford, aged 32, of Wolstanton, said: "The driving is erratic, around Stoke Station especially."
However, taxi drivers have defended their record, pointing out there are 1,433 licensed Hackney carriage and private hire cabbies in the city.

Long-serving Hackney carriage driver Abdul Rauf, aged 48, of Shelton, said: "The majority of the time we feel there isn't always a legitimate complaint. "There have been occasions where people have become angry over the price and I give them the council telephone number myself as I know I haven't done anything wrong. "It is one thing a complaint being made but another whether it was justified."

Dave Currie, regional secretary of the National Private Hire Association, said: "There is a difference between being accused and being guilty." The data, revealed under the Freedom of Information Act, show there were 537 complaints in 2011 and 2012.

Last year, in an attempt to raise standards, the city council made it a requirement for applicants to obtain a BTEC qualification in road passenger vehicle driving. Mr Currie said it was 'sad' drivers were being told the qualification was compulsory.

A city council spokesman said: "All complaints are investigated and where there is evidence we will pursue and take action. "Taxi drivers can receive a warning, licence review or licence suspension."

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