Taxi Driver Online

Council relaxes rules restricting taxi drivers from having tinted windows


A change in council policy will mean taxi drivers in Slough who buy cars with tinted windows will no longer be forced to change it to normal glass.
Previously, taxi drivers who bought cars with rear tinted windows would have to foot the bill to replace them with glass windows which allow at least 70 per cent of light in.

Slough Borough Council’s licensing committee last night (Thursday) agreed to change the rules after the chairman of the Slough Private Hire Drivers Association had branded it a ‘militant regime’.

The rule change means any cars which were fitted with tinted windows at the point of manufacture will not need to be changed.

During the meeting at St Martins Place, Cllr Rob Anderson (Lab, Britwell and Northborough) argued against the move. He said: “Quite a number of councils have very different policies.

“I notice that Wycombe Council has a very simple one, no tinted windows, end of.

“The other thing I don’t need to remind the committee about is the terms of trade with which the council licences vehicles.

“The number one priority of this council is the safety of the public. Number two is that we have a thriving and efficient taxi trade and number three is that we project the right image of this town.

“I can’t see anything in the revised policy that advances that.”

Ibrar Khan, chairman of Slough’s Private Hire Drivers Association, told the meeting: “We shouldn’t be told as to what vehicle we can and cannot have. If it comes with manufacturing tints then so be it.

“It’s unfortunate that taxi drivers are being deemed for something they’re not.”

Councillors voted six to four in favour of changing the policy.

In 2012 the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, now the Driver Vehicle and Standards Agency, said clear visibility in the rear of a licensed vehicle was important as it meant vulnerable passengers would feel safer knowing they can be seen.

source: http://www.sloughexpress.co.uk/news/slo ... ndows.html

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

_________________
IDFIMH

_________________
IDFIMH

I tend to agree, if councils are worried about the safety of passengers then perhaps they shouldn't issue licenses to dodgy folk

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

The question also arises as to why the people who control which vehicles we have in this country allow such vehicles in the first place.

Why do they allow Stretch Limos, or PSVs with tinted windows?

Where is the evidence of people not wanting tinted windows in licensed vehicles?

From my experience, with my last car which had tinted windows, is that punters love them.

_________________
IDFIMH

I would agree many customers love the idea that they can sail down the road without anyone that knows them seeing they've taken a taxi. Or that they can cuddle up in the back without being watched

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

Rotherham situation springs to mind why you should not be allowed to have tinted windows.

How many of those attacks happened in the back of a cab with tinted glass?

_________________
IDFIMH

It is not always about attacks that happen,but the protection of passengers and driver requires unhindered access for anyone to see into the vehicle from any direction.

If only someone could invent a product that records what happens in a cab.

_________________
IDFIMH