Taxi Driver Online

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/taunton_news/16123045.60__of_Taunton_taxi_complaints_are_about_poor_driver_conduct/

More than half of complaints made about taxis in the Taunton area relate to the poor conduct of drivers, according to official statistics.

Complaints about taxis and private hire vehicles made up 60 per cent of the all those made to Taunton Deane Borough Council’s licensing service – six times the number made about alcohol or entertainment venues.

The council has said that this situation “is always the case”, putting it down to the competitive environment in which taxi companies operate.

The council’s licensing committee considered a report into the situation at a meeting held in Taunton on Wednesday (March 21).

In the last three months of 2017, a total of 31 complaint and service requests were made to the council.

Eighteen of these complaints related to taxis or private hire vehicles – the equivalent of at least one every week.

for a place the size of Taunton that's bad

Of these, 61 per cent related to “driver conduct” – a term which covers everything from drivers being rude to passengers to poor driving.

Complaints against the standards of the vehicles involved – such as dirty vehicles or a failure to display badges – make up the remaining numbers.

A council spokesperson said: “In some cases complaints against driver conduct can be more serious and may constitute criminal offences.

“Where this is the case, we will always work with the police to ensure the matter is investigated appropriately.

“Regardless, all complaints, whether made by the public or other taxi drivers, are taken seriously, are recorded and then investigated by council officers.”

The majority of the borough’s taxi ranks are based in Taunton, with taxis being able to pick up from Corporation Street, East Street, Hammet Street, Mary Street and Tower Street.

There is also a rank at the town’s railway station (on land privately owned by Great Western Railway) and a further rank on Fore Street in Wellington.

The council said that the complaints against taxi drivers are “normally the highest in number”, partially in light of drivers of rival firms informing on their competitors.

The spokesperson said: “The taxi trade is a competitive environment and many drivers work with council officers to identify other operators who fail to meet the standards set.”

Despite the number of complaints against driver conduct, the council does not believe this to be a serious problem across the borough.

The authority said that it will remove licences or prosecute those who fall below its conduct standards if complaints are upheld, and has promised to review its policies “if and when any trends are identified”.

Anyone wishing to complain about a taxi or private hire vehicle operating in the Taunton Deane area should call 01823 356343 or email licensing@tauntondeane.gov.uk.

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

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Sadly the article doesn’t say, and IMO the council are at fault by not saying too, as to how many of those complaints were upheld.

But then again as it’s the taxi/PH trade clearly they couldn’t care less.

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IDFIMH