Taxi Driver Online

Training plea for cabbies Apr 6 2006




By Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo


TAXI drivers should pass a special course to get their licence, a Liverpool training provider has urged.

Liverpool council's licensing authority said it will consider the idea.

Licensing authorities in Huddersfield already insist on drivers passing the training course, which covers law, customer service and new disability legislation.

Eduk8, in Liverpool's Jamaica Street, has struck a deal with Huddersfield to provide the oneand-a-half day course in Mersey-side and beyond.

Co-directors Mike Comer and Janet Jones believe it would be ideal for the Liverpool's 800th anniversary next year and 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations.

Mr Comer said: "We think it would sit well with the Capital of Culture.

"It deals with how to operate with disabled passengers and what the latest disability legislation involves."

Ms Jones added: "Huddersfield have been doing this for a while."

Eduk8 has written to several local authorities and Ms Jones said Blackpool was very keen to adopt the idea.

"We have also spoken to a couple of cab firms in Liverpool who are happy for us to train their staff," she said.

Ms Jones said the legal aspects could be invaluable.

"For example, if a driver works for a firm and the cab is owned by the firm but has bald tyres, who is responsible?"

The course would reveal that the owner was responsible, although the driver should refuse to take the vehicle out.

"It would also show drivers how to help a disabled person in and out of their cab," added Ms Jones.

Eudk8 delivers a range of training from IT and health and safety to customer service and first aid, which Ms Jones said she thinks should also be included in the taxi drivers' course.

A spokesman for Liverpool council said: "We will consider their suggestions with the aim of taking things forward."

we had to watch a short video about that.
Good idea

Just can't work out why a Liverpool training firm wants Liverpool cabbies to do a new training scheme.

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IDFIMH

I can. To generate business for themselves. What do they charge? £150 plus?

How to help the disabled into and out of a taxi? I've managed for over twenty years. Bald tyre? oh! perleease! Do they teach Grannies to suck eggs?

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Former taxi driver

It's an interesting point nevertheless - I'm quite sure a driver can be prosecuted for bald tyres even if it's not his car?

So much for the training firm.

But if they think fit to name thier firm in text message language ('eduk8') then it doesn't exactly inspire confidence

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

It's all a con, who's getting a back hander? Once again they want us to shell out, what's wrong with thinking for one self. The nanny state and there followers at it again, walking around in suits, telling others what to do, and say, never having done the job themself, ah they make me puke.