Taxi Driver Online

MIDNIGHT COWBOYS PICK UP THE EASY TARGETS - DRUNKS AT THE MERCY OF TAXI PREDATORS

REVELLERS desperate to get home jumped into any cab available as they spilled out of pubs and clubs at the weekend. We saw private hire cars blatantly flout licensing laws by illegally queueing for business in the street.

Near midnight on Friday in Glasgow's Union Street, at least seven rogue cabs lined the street at any given time looking for easy pick-ups. And up the road in Sauchiehall Street, private hire cars double parked on both sides of the oneway street - making it difficult and dangerous for traffic to pass.

At a quarter past midnight, a silver Vauxhall picked up two couples in Queen Street. The men and women had clearly been drinking and had spent several minutes screaming for cabs and running down the middle of the road trying to hail a taxi.

They eventually spotted the car, which had been sitting for almost 10 minutes. Rather than point them to the nearest rank, the driver told them to get in.

Around 10 minutes later, we spotted a silver Vauxhall Vectra which had been parked for some time. When two teenage boys staggered up to the window, the driver spoke with them for a few minutes before taking the hire. Fifteen minutes after that, we watched a Skoda cab drop a man off and then signal to pull out, before picking up a hire seconds later.

One reputable driver told us: "I have a daughter who goes out clubbing and she has been well warned never to just jump into a private cab. "People don't realise that these guys aren't insured for any passengers they've just picked up."

Another driver said: "A lot of people come out of pubs and clubs and are too drunk and cold to think about the risks. "But when they get in a private hire car they have no idea whose car they're in and no way of checking if anything goes wrong."

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IDFIMH

I am not suprised as this happens everywhere,

It is either caused by a lack of public hire taxis or not enough ranks

What if the driver's blown in and booked them, or told them to phone for a car and told them driver ??? is here now can i get in? That makes it legal doesnt it?
I'm not saying i agree with it, but to much complaining could lead to de reg.

As I have said before on here.....

If the lazy, moany, money grabbing Hackney drivers got their finger out their ar5es and worked the town - then there wouldn't be an issue!

Picking and choosing who and where they pick up!

Over quoting!

Refusing distance work!

And they wonder why the public either phone or approach a Private!

Not rocket science FFS.

90% of Hack drivers up here have a serious chip on their shoulder - they think they are superior - superior even to the customer, maybe it's time the system was de-regulated for the customers sake if anything!

Glasgow is a highly volitile place - especially on a Friday/Saturday night, people just want to get home with all their Lungs intact - if the Hackneys can't provide that service, well, is it not time for a re-think?

One question though...

Why are the Police not doing anything do you think??

Is it because they themselves see the problem and know without the PH - there would be more trouble in the City Centre???

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

This could be the likely explaination, as pointed out by RadioGaGa, Glasgow private hire cars must have their company name & phone number blazened across the doors or back windows which according to some is part of the Councils licence conditions even though its illegal under the Civic Government Act

Couldn't have said it better myself



Incidently, what paper was the story in Mr Sussex ?

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

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IDFIMH

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

Is there an echo in here?

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IDFIMH

Is there an echo in here?

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

I might have known that rag would be stirring things up, all its fit for is emergency toilet paper

I think that's about it.

After all, are they really bothered about anything unless blood is spilt.

Turning a blind eye makes their job easier, and helps them get back to their cosy offices...err...I mean helps clear the streets.

In the final analysis it probably helps to maintain restricted taxi numbers as well, so paradoxically, the taxi trade should welcome a limited blind eye as well.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

But as you know TDO this solves nothing. It’s the Ph or us. A simple choice, a time to stop kissing councillors on the arse for our very existence, or?

I have nothing against the Ph only the authorities that plays one off against the other. The grey area is where they want to keep “us”. Them against us, whoever “us” may be, and there in lies the nub? Maybe if we all knew who’s side we were on it is “us” who would be controlling them.

Ph company owners, licence plate holder’s all selling “us” out at every opportunity and then telling “us” it’s all for our own good and the good of the trade.


What a load of Bollix! The "trade" you have got to

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

would rather use my bare hands, don't want that pile of [edited by admin] touching my pile of [edited by admin], I have principles.

As has been said, the G;asgow hacks moan too much, as a reveller I want deregulation, I want to get home, and am not really bothered about city politics, I have often been turned away by private hire, only to have to put up with a moaning hack, and to then be thrown around inside his cab, as he takes our life in his hands, on the joyride he calls a service, competitiion is what they fear, but competition is good for the consumer, as it weedles out the lazy [edited by admin], bet the decent hard working hacks aren't moaning, they'll be too busy making a success of their business.

RANK STUPIDITY

Exclusive DRUNKS AT THE MERCY OF TAXI PREDATORS Cab boss:

CABBIES warned last night that a woman will be killed unless cops crack down on rogue taxis.

They fear some drivers are trawling the streets looking for vulnerable females to prey on.

Just last month, a 21-year-old tourist suffered a vicious sex attack after getting into a dodgy cab late at night.

She was driven to a quiet industrial estate in Glasgow and assaulted.

Cabbies blame the problem on rogue private-hire operators touting for business in the city centre.

They say young clubbers desperate to get home are willing to jump in any car that stops for them.


Bill McIntosh, the secretary of the Scottish Taxi Federation, has written to police demanding action.


He said: "Incidents involving vulnerable young women are rising.


"It is only a matter of time before someone loses their life."


Licensing laws mean only Hackney cabs are allowed to pick passengers up without a booking. Private-hire cars can only collect customers who have booked by phone - but many drivers ignore the rules.


McIntosh said: "These guys come into Glasgow on the pretence of picking up a booked customer, but in reality they are here to tout for passengers.


"They are unregulated - anyone who steps in the car has no record of the booking. This puts safety at risk.


"These are unscrupulous characters and should be treated with caution."


The shady practice costs taxi drivers an estimated £450,000 a year.


And passengers are not insured if they ride in a private-hire cab they pick up in the street.


But McIntosh said: "The real threat is to public safety. Drunken females, often alone, are stepping into cars they know nothing about.


"Until this industry is properly regulated, there exists a danger some unfortunate will pay with their life." Glasgow has a fixed number of 1430 taxis and 2766 private-hire cars.


Taxi bosses are now using covert filming to catch the 100 or so drivers they say are operating illegally at any time during busy weekends.


McIntosh added: "Perhaps then the police will act before someone gets hurt."


Kenny McLeod, secretary of Greater Glasgow Private Hire Association, has also asked police and council bosses to investigate.


His company, Network Private Hire, have launched a text-back service where customers are sent details of the car that will pick them up.


Brian Sinclair, of the Aberdeen Taxi Group, said: "Passengers have to know that they can travel in safety. As far as the drivers are concerned, we can never have too many safety checks."


Festival City Executive Cars in Edinburgh have a system which prioritises females travelling alone.


Boss Jim Martin said: "Our operator asks how many people are travelling and if it's a female who's alone she gets priority for the first car in the area."


Strathclyde Police Superintendent Alistair Finlay said: "We would urge the public to be wary of getting into any car which is not clearly identified.


"If in any doubt, walk away."