Getting a bit same old, same old this now, but two different articles on the Belast Live website in last few days, so not an issue that looks like it's going away any time soon. Not sure what's going on precisely, and the official driver stats certainly don't show as big a decrease as the operators are suggesting in way of lost drivers.
DfI holding firm on driver testing and quality control, though, but whether the ops will get the upper hand on this remains to be seen.
Covid NI: Christmas party plans could be in jeopardy as Belfast cab firm struggles to meet demandhttps://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belf ... s-21345856"If you think things are bad getting a taxi now, it's just going to get worse again"
William McCausland and Stephen Anton of Fonacab (Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)One of Belfast’s biggest taxi firms has warned that Christmas revellers could be left out in the cold unless it can get more drivers behind the wheel.
Stephen Anton, communications manager at Fonacab, was speaking after the company revealed it turned down 70% of customers last Saturday because they did not have enough drivers.
Fonacab boss William McCausland revealed earlier this week that his firm was forced to turn away almost 3,000 customers and had to switch off its app in addition to rejected telephone bookings as it struggled to cope with demand.
Two months ago the Belfast firm said a shortage of new drivers, combined with the numbers leaving the industry, had left them at crisis point.
Taxi drivers are on average older than other employment sectors and many have chosen to retire early, the firm added.
It has also blamed the other difficulties faced by those wanting to enter the profession, including insurance and licencing costs.
Fonacab has over 400 fewer drivers compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the issue as many have found employment in other industries.
Official figures from the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) show the number of registered taxi drivers in Northern Ireland has fallen from 9,590 in 2019/20 to 8,781 a year later.
However the true number of working drivers could be much lower.
Mr Anton told Belfast Live: "By and large we have proportionately lost more weekend than weekday drivers. Those who are working only tend to do so from Monday to Friday rather than in the evenings and at weekends because the tariffs we can offer them are restricted by the DVA and DfI.
"Why would they go out to work on a Saturday night and not earn much more and have to put up with all the hassle of people not being where they say they'll be, cancellations and potential problematic customers?
"You can't fault the drivers for wanting to work their own hours and the hours that suit them," he added.
Mr Anton has warned that the situation will escalate in the run up to the festive season: "We are going to be busy every single day and night once people start going out to Christmas lunches and dinners.
"As we know the weather gets worse leading up to Christmas and on a normal day here our business will go up whenever it rains because people who might have walked all of a sudden want a taxi.
"If you think things are bad getting a taxi now unfortunately as the weather worsens, the nights get darker, more people return to the office, schools and colleges resume and people start thinking about turkey, it's just going to get worse again."
He added: "We will do our best to keep our drivers on the road because no driver wants to miss a booking as that's their livelihood. But unless something changes and we can find a quick way to get more drivers into the industry, we will disappoint customers.
"We are sorry that out service at present is not what we want it to be. We want to improve matters but we need help from our Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon in order to do so."
DfI has said the taxi sector has received £16.7m in both financial and regulatory support during the pandemic and its officials " continue to work closely with industry representatives during this difficult time".
A DfI spokesperson added: "The decline in taxi driver numbers during 2020/21 is likely to have been impacted by the Covid pandemic. There has been limited opportunity for first time applicants to apply for their taxi driver test due to Covid restrictions on driver testing.
"However, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) resumed practical driving tests and theory tests for all categories, including taxi drivers, on 23 April 2021. In addition, some existing taxi drivers, whose taxi licence expired during this period, may have decided not to incur the cost of renewing their taxi driver’s licence until the Covid restrictions were lifted.
"As taxi drivers are providing a service to the public it is necessary to ensure that such drivers undergo the necessary training to continually develop their knowledge and skills for road safety purposes throughout their career. Also the taxi theory and practical tests are a requirement of the Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.
"The Department has responsibility for road safety, and takes this role very seriously. The current regulatory arrangements help to support the taxi industry to ensure that appropriate safety standards are embedded throughout. Therefore, any further relaxation or simplification to the current entry requirements would require further policy and legislative consideration."
Belfast bar worker forced to walk home in early hours as cab firms struggle to meet demandhttps://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belf ... k-21364943"You just worry that this might become the norm for me and many others"A Belfast teenager has spoken of how he was concerned for his own safety after being forced to walk home in the early hours due to a shortage of taxis in the city at weekends.
City centre bar worker Daniel Oates, 18, was speaking after one of Belfast’s biggest taxi firms revealed it turned down 70% of customers last Saturday because they did not have enough drivers.
Fonacab boss William McCausland said his firm was forced to turn away almost 3,000 customers and had to switch off its app in addition to rejected telephone bookings as it struggled to cope with demand.
Fonacab has over 400 fewer drivers compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the issue as many have found employment in other industries.
It has also blamed the other difficulties faced by those wanting to enter the profession, including insurance and licencing costs.
Daniel was one of those impacted by the shortage of drivers when he left work in the early hours of Sunday morning and tried to make his way back safely to the family home in East Belfast.
He told Belfast Live: "I finished up in work at around 2.30am and went on the taxi app but it said no cars were available until 7am. I tried to get an Uber but I was quoted £30 for what would normally be a £10 journey. Paying that would mean what I earned in a few hours would be pretty much gone."
Daniel said while difficulty in getting a taxi late at night is nothing new, this was the first time he was faced with no other option but to walk home.
"Once you get through on the phone, which can take a while, you're told that there's no taxis available or it's a two hour wait but this time there was nothing available.
"With buses stopping at around 11.30 there are very few options available which shouldn't be the case in a capital city like Belfast. Other cities in the UK have buses running through the night long after that time.
"I've also been working at the bars in Custom House Square which has been ok as I usually finish around 11pm and can jump on the last Glider but that wasn't the case that night," Daniel said.
"It took me an hour to walk back to the Castlereagh Road area, through the Short Strand. I was quite nervous and just put my headphones in, kept my head down and didn't make eye contact with anyone as I didn't feel very safe.
"You just don't know who you might bump in to on the way or what state they might be in after drinking and stuff. It's also not the nicest thing to have to do especially after a long eight hour shift behind the bar."
Daniel added: "As the weather changes and more places start opening up again, I'm worried that things will only get worse. In the summer it's not enjoyable but by the winter I won't be in a position to walk home.
"Sometimes I have the option of getting a lift home with another staff member but depending on finish times that doesn't always work out.
"After happening once and with the issues taxis are facing in terms of trying to get drivers, you just worry that this might become the norm for me and many others.
"On my next shift in the bar, when it comes to 2.30 I have no idea what might happen and it may all just be down to luck."
Taxi bosses have appealed to Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon to review their regulated fares and to ease the requirements to gain a taxi driver's licence in order to get more drivers into the industry.
DfI has said the taxi sector has received £16.7m in both financial and regulatory support during the pandemic and its officials will " continue to work closely with industry representatives during this difficult time".
Login
Register
FAQ
