Taxi Driver Online

So no clarification in Glasgow yet, and PHDs still can't use them

But interesting comment from the council at the end of the piece questioning whether screens actually help stop transmission at all

And Scottish Government still to issue guidance. Timescale in relation to Covid-19 makes a mockery of the whole thing. Worst of the pandemic is over and they still haven't issued the guidance.

Also worth bearing in mind here that the article seems to assume UPHD is a PH operator rather than a trades union. Either that or there's a few lines missing from the article



Private hire drivers lives at risk as council 'drags feet' on allowing protective screens

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glas ... h-18326465

United Private Hire Drivers are asking Glasgow City Council to allow drivers to install protective screens in their cars.

Glasgow City Council have been accused of 'dragging their feet' over plans to introduce protective screens for private hire cars.

United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) have said that the council is one of only two local authorities who have to decided not to allow drivers to install the screens in their vehicle.

Unlike black Hackney-style cars, private hire vehicles don't any have protection from or for their customers.

As well as transporting members of the public, some companies have contracts with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to take patients and medication to and from the hospital.

United Private Hire Drivers, which represents drivers all over Scotland, has said that three drivers have died of Covid-19 in Glasgow since the outbreak began.

A member of staff at the company, who own Glasgow Private Hire and Renfrewshire Cabs, told Glasgow Live that drivers are picking up hospital patients but not being told whether they are positive for the virus.

The worker who asked to remain anonymous, said: "Our company has a contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide managed transport services to the organisation - this includes patient and staff transport as well as other courier services for samples, medicine, equipment and more.

"The management team originally indicated that when NHSGGC staff contact our Control Room staff to book a taxi for a patient who has tested positive for COVID-19, that we should not inform the driver.

"Our staff did not follow this instruction and thus informed the driver sent for the hire. This was later backtracked by one of our managers after the fact and that we would not be transferring any customer with a confirmed positive case of coronavirus."

Drivers have said that maintaining a two-metre distance in a car is virtually impossible.

Alfie Wellcoat, Vice Chair Glasgow UPHD, said: "Drivers are having to chose between staying at home and losing money to protect themselves and their family, or go to work and put their lives at risk.

"We've been discussing installing the protective screens with all local authorities but so far, Glasgow City Council have been dragging their feet."

All private hire drivers require permission from the city's licencing board to make any modification to their cars.

Glasgow City Council are currently seeking further guidance on whether the screens prevent the spread of the virus and if they pose a safety issue for passengers, if the car is to crash.

A spokesman for the council said: "We fully understand the anxiety that anyone may feel when working in close proximity to members of the public during the Covid-19 crisis.

"At this stage no-one can confirm whether such screens do restrict the spread of the virus and we have other concerns about the safety implications of such temporary modifications to vehicles.

"We have written to the Scottish Government to seek clarification on how private hire vehicles can operate safely during the covid-19 outbreak. The matter has also been raised by Solar, the body that represents all licensing authorities in Scotland."

SNP are spending all their time trying to keep their Westminster MPs away from Westminster in an attamept to slow down the implementation of the Tory manifesto.

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IDFIMH

Absolute joke of a council.

We have screens in every shop in the UK now that's open. Are they waiting for the Scottish Government to govern?

But even if they don't work, who cares? Let those lads who want them, have them.

If the council is worried about customers hitting their heads, then at least allow a softer vinyl.

Doing nothing is shameful.

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IDFIMH

Whereas Leeds Council say fill your boots.

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/leeds ... t-approval

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IDFIMH

The original YEP article below for those who think the pandemic might be over before they get the TaxiPoint version to download

Or before Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government work out what the hell is going on


Leeds taxi drivers can now install temporary safety screens to protect against coronavirus

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... us-2871800

Leeds City Council is allowing taxi and private hire cars to install temporary safety screens to protect against coronavirus.

The council has a strict policy on the installation of safety screens in taxis and each individual design must be approved before they can be fitted.

But due to safety concerns for passengers and drivers during the pandemic, the council has announced today that it has temporarily relaxed this policy.

Drivers can now install their own screens without going through the usual council approval process.

All temporary screens will need to be removed when the emergency ends and the council’s policy of approving each screen design will resume.

Councillor James Lewis, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We have listened to concerns from taxi and private hire drivers and operators about keeping safe during the coronavirus pandemic and have temporarily changed our policy to reflect this.

"Of course it is our preference that each screen is checked and approved by us, but we understand that these are unprecedented times and that there are huge numbers of drivers that need to be given the freedom to act quickly for the safety of themselves and their passengers.

"After careful assessment, we are glad to be able to provide that.”

But by the time the pen pushers decide when this has happened the next pandemic will be along

Below apparently the guidance issued by the Scottish Government on 18 June.

It's just guidance regarding the screens and, as will be clear, it's quite detailed about what needs to be done if you do want to fit a screen.

But it's not even a recommendation to fit a screen, and I doubt if it in any way stops Glasgow banning them (assuming the ban is still in place).

Anyway, this is it. Not sure how it compares to likes of any TfL or DfT guidance (because I've read neither), but I wouldn't be surprised if it's similar or even identical (as per usual, an 'operator' in Scotland is a plateholder/vehicle proprietor, or whatever).


Use of Partitions or Screens

Partitions or safety screens provide a physical barrier between drivers and passengers in the vehicle. They are commonly installed as a safety feature to protect the driver from physical attacks or theft. There has been an increase in interest of the use of screens as a way of providing physical separation between drivers and passengers in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Partitions in taxis or PHCs do not provide a fully sealed compartment which completely separates the driver from the passenger. Therefore, whilst it is possible that partitions may reduce the risk of transmission of infection, the risk would not be eliminated entirely.

If an operator decides to fit a protective screen to the licensed car, the operator must contact their local licensing authority to advise that he/she has plans to do this. There must be proof that the relevant insurer has been contacted and that the insurer has confirmed that the necessary insurance would be unaffected by the proposed installation of the screen. The licensing authority may consider this to be a material change to the vehicle of which they require to be notified formally in terms of Paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. If formal notification is required, a fee may have to be paid to the licensing authority to process the notification, which would also involve consultation with Police Scotland regarding the proposed change(s) to the vehicle. In any event, if a screen is fitted, the operator must ensure that it is fitted safely and securely. In addition, it-

Must comply with the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations.

Must not be permanently installed in the vehicle

Must be fitted in such a way to not affect the structural integrity of the vehicle, or interfere with any manufacturer fitted safety equipment e.g. airbags

Must not wrap around the driver seat and create a partition between the two front seats, in addition to the rear cabin area.

The partition used MUST be clear and transparent and can ONLY be fitted across the rear of both front seats, creating a partition between the front and rear cabin area of the vehicle

Any screen must be tested to the relevant EU standard for an original equipment type approval test covering interior fittings

The screen must be approved by MIRA or other comparable independent product engineering, testing, consultancy and certification organisation.

Screens should be constructed of PETg or polycarbonate

The screen should not impede the driver’s vision, movement, or communication with passengers

The screen should not impede driver or passenger access or egress to the vehicle

Consideration should also be given to ensure that:

Screens must be professionally and securely fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Certification from the vehicle’s manufacturer should be sought to confirm that the screen does not compromise the integrity of the vehicle structure

Insurers should be notified of any modifications made to the vehicle

Screens should also be cleaned regularly (see Cleaning of vehicles), including between passenger journeys and changes of driver with disinfectant.


The other stuff about coverings, hand hygiene etc can be read here:

https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/business/co ... -licences/

This is similar to the LGA guidance I posted up last week, and the bits above are as f***ing stupid as the guidance from the LGA.

I doubt there is any temporary screen in the world that has been tested to EU standard, even if one exists.

And can someone confirm we left the EU in January so what the f*** have they got to do with it anyway?

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IDFIMH

Ah, yes, it was the LGA stuff that I couldn't be bothered reading

But obviously there's a degree of, er, overlap between the two specifications, and clearly there's either been collaboration or simply copying. The Scottish stuff is basically the LGA stuff reworded and rearranged, but with a few more criteria added.

For example, compare these two:




So the Scottish version is just the LGA's version split in two, but otherwise precisely the same wording

But whether there was collaboration somewhere along the line, or one simply copied the other, isn't clear.

The Scottish guidance was issued 18 June, but not clear when the LGA's was published, at least from the document - I wish they'd put a date on stuff like this

https://democracy.cheltenham.gov.uk/doc ... eady_R.pdf

I put this up a few days ago in a 2,000 word post which disappeared for, er, technical reasons

I actually managed to retrieve the post, but all the capital letters have disappeared (don't ask), and if there's anything that annoys me it's lack of capital letters (or too many capital letters ) blah, blah.

Anway, can't be bothered putting the capital letters back in, but interesting how Fife Council seems to have had a change of heart on the screen spec following the publication of the detailed Scottish Government guidance and specification, basically passing the buck to the trade to do 'risk assessments', because the issues obviously too difficult.

Baring in mind the current situation, which doesn't allow for months of consultations and faffing around, I think the council are bang on.

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IDFIMH

I think you're 'bang on' as well, and given the current situation, councils are right to look at these things with a degree of, er, creativitity and latitude

Unless, of course, it's Lewes Council

By the way, I must have written the earlier stuff *before* I was aware that the Scottish Government *had* issued guidance, although it was actually issued a few weeks ago, but I only came across it last week.

But the detailed and impossible nature of the guidance perhaps explains why Fife decided to pass the buck to the trade - things had just become a wee bit too difficult