Taxi Driver Online

Dearne: Take care when ordering a taxi, council advises


People in the Dearne are being warned to take care when they hire a cab this Christmas.


As the festive season approaches Barnsley Council is asking revellers not to take risks with their safety by using unlicensed taxis or private hire vehicles.

The vehicles will not be insured to carry paying passengers and the vehicle will not have been examined by the council to ensure it is roadworthy.

All licensed vehicles are inspected throughout the year by qualified vehicle examiners, and all licensed drivers undergo a rigorous application process which includes a criminal records check to ensure they are fit and proper to hold a licence with the council.

Coun Charles Wraith, Chairman of the General Licensing Board, said: “I would urge members of the public to avoid using unlicensed vehicles which can put their safety at risk. Unlicensed vehicles will not be insured and I dread to think of the consequences should an unlicensed vehicle be involved in a serious road traffic accident.

“Taxis can be hailed in the street or approached at ranks and do not need to be booked in advance. There are numerous taxi ranks around the town centre from which a taxi may be taken and we will be providing taxi marshals for the busiest nights over Christmas and the New Year to ensure people can hire taxis safely. Private hire vehicles must always be booked in advance through a licensed operator.”

All licensed drivers will have and be able to produce a Licence ID card containing the following information: Barnsley Council’s logo, driver’s photograph and driver’s number.

Always use either a licensed taxi that is clearly displaying door signs and a white licence plate on the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively, use a licensed private hire vehicle displaying a yellow licence plate on the front and rear of the vehicle and signs to the front and rear doors including the operator’s name and contact details.

Anyone with you any doubts that the vehicle or driver is not licensed by the council are advised not to get in the vehicle and inform the Licensing Section at Barnsley Council on 01226 772468 or the Police, dial 101, as soon as possible.

This year in Barnsley there will be two taxi marshals stationed at hackney carriage ranks at New Street (adjacent to Chicago Rock) and Midland Street. The marshals will help people visiting town centre pubs, bars and restaurants get home safely at the end of the evening.

Marshals will be on duty on the evenings of Friday, December 20, Sunday 22, Boxing Day, Saturday 28, and New Year’s Eve.

In addition, officers funded by the Barnsley branch of the Hackney Carriage Association will patrol the area around Queen Street and Eldon Street.

source: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/new ... -1-6327217


Rogue taxi drivers face crackdown


ROGUE taxi and private hire drivers working in the city centre are facing a festive crackdown.

The move is aimed at ensuring revellers are not put at risk by travelling in defective vehicles.

It is hoped it will also prevent the "danger" of people getting into unlicensed cars believing the drivers are legal.

Officers from the city council's taxi enforcement unit have decided to carry out regular patrols during the Christmas and New Year period.

The enforcement team has the power to stop and search not only local private hire cars, but also taxis from neighbouring ­areas which illegally operate on busy city streets.

Anyone breaking the rules will be reported to their licensing ­authority and cars with defects could be taken off the road immediately.

This month, the council's licensing committee suspended one private hire driver for six months for ­plying his trade outwith his own area.

Committee chairman Chris Kelly said: "It is important we ­protect our honest, ­licensed drivers.

"They work hard and they should not have to worry about people crossing borders to steal work from under their noses.

"The council has its own enforcement unit and this year it is carrying out a number of rigorous patrols as the party season gets into full swing.

"We have intelligence where these people like to tout for business and we are not prepared to have them stealing business from licensed drivers.

"If we see a private car picking up on the street or joining a rank, we will be asking for an explanation.

"We will also take the opportunity to ­inspect the vehicle and the driver's credentials."

Mr Kelly said in previous years a number of rogue operators decided to pack up and go home rather than face the enforcement team.

He added: "There is a real safety issue here too. We have no idea whether a car licensed outside Glasgow is safe and we have no idea if the person behind the wheel is a fit and ­proper person.

"Most worrying, when people are prepared to get into cars on unofficial ranks, they may be using cars that are not licensed anywhere.

"It may sound like a scare story but it does happen, it is very dangerous and we don't want it happening in Glasgow."

source: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/rogu ... n.22998409


Taxi marshals to be used in Rhyl over festive period


TAXI marshals will be used in Rhyl over the festive period to protect revellers and drivers during some of the busiest times of the year.

Marshals will operate at the Water Street taxi stand on Friday, December 20, Saturday, December 21 and on New Year's Eve between 10pm and 6am with large queues of people are expected to congregate.

It is part of the Safer Christmas campaign.

Emlyn Jones, public protection manager for Denbighshire Council said: "We are introducing these taxi marshals to help protect the safety of passengers and taxi drivers, to deter crime and to prevent anti-social behaviour at taxi stands.

"These are some of the busiest times of the year and inevitably there is the potential for more anti-social behaviour than other nights.

"We want people to enjoy themselves but we also want them to stay safe. This latest initiative should offer some reassurances to partygoers that there are people out there watching over their safety."

Inspector Aled Eynon said: “The scheme means there is a highly visible presence on the taxi rank.

"Security industry authority approved officers ensure people working in and using the local night time economy feel safe, and that there is a structured approach to using taxis to leave the area.

"Local policing teams will also be on patrol to support the initiative and further reassure the public, taxi drivers and other night time economy workers.”

source: http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/12 ... eriod.aspx

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

What surprises me is the assumption that vehicles operating outside their own area are subject to any less stringent licencing or testing than the area in which they are caught. This seems to be a very good argument for the LC proposals to have a universal standard for testing and licencing!

By all means check they have the right credentials for the driver and the vehicle is roadworthy, but to keep assuming they are potential death traps is a slur on the operator and the other licencing authorities. Target those who are completely unlicenced and those who DO tout for business from other areas.