I'm a taxi driver and this is why I will work Christmas Day but not New Year's Eve this yearhttps://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/n ... ay-7924447
Gloucestershire taxi driver explains why you might find it hard getting a lift on New Year's Eve.
Most people have done it at some point in their lives - moaned about not being able to get a taxi the minute we needed one. Generally that means on the odd occasion when we need to get home after a big night out.
And big nights out don’t come any bigger than New Year's Eve. Whether we need to get home from the pub or a party with friends, that journey home suddenly feels like an epic expedition after a drunken rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
There's always the taxi talk: 'Who has remembered to book?'. 'We forgot to book, do you think yours would come back for us?'. 'We booked two weeks ago so why are they late?'. ' I don't feel well so I don't suppose you have someone free at 12.15am on January 1?'. On and on it goes. We all want our beds and we want them now.
Taxi-driver Andrew Hale knows this all too well because he has been the one waiting for us outside the pub or friend’s house while we say our goodbyes. He's the one who gets the begging phone calls and the rebuffs when he says he can't make it until 3am. And this year the Cinderford cabbie caused a stir when he announced publicly that he would not be working New Year's Eve and why.
He boldly told people in the Forest of Dean to plan ahead because he probably wouldn’t be alone in making that decision to stay at home this year. “New Year's Eve I will be doing the same as you and having a few beers and having a good evening,” he said.
Not everybody agreed with his decision but the one-man-band taxi man said it has nothing to do with him not wanting to do his job. His Vauxhall Insignia is busy ferrying people around the Forest right over the rest of the festive season.
“I love working Christmas Day,” said the cabbie. " People are all jolly and thank you for working. They tend to be visiting family or friends and are very happy.
“Because everybody is in a good mood you don’t get any bother or complaints about the cost. In fact people often give you a bottle of something or chocolates and biscuits to say thank you for working. Sometimes they even give you presents they don’t want.
“People are usually on a tight schedule on Christmas Day so they don’t leave you hanging about. You can usually go from job to job pretty stress free and it’s a really lovely atmosphere.”
As well as the happy atmosphere, there are enough bookings spread out to make Christmas Day worth working financially. But a week later is party night and everything changes.
“New Year's Eve is very different,” said Andrew. “ Somebody drives to the pub because nobody wants to pay double and then everybody wants a taxi home at the same time.
“Last time I did it I got fed up sitting in the house waiting for the phone to ring when everybody was out having a good time. Then it was really busy for around two hours after midnight.
“When you turn up people are like ‘mate give me ten minutes while I say goodbye’ or ‘any chance you can come back later’. Then there’s all the ‘stop the car because I feel sick or need a wee’.
“I do understand where people are coming from and I’m not judging, but it’s just not worth it financially either. You don't make enough money in those few hours and after working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day I should be able to have a few beers with everybody else.”
Over the past few years rising fuel costs, increased legislation and the Covid pandemic means fewer and fewer taxis in rural areas like the Forest of Dean. Drivers say it’s difficult to make a living because the Forest does not have any large shopping centres or train stations that attract business.
School contracts keep drivers going during the week when business is patchy and they have to get by on a few small runs a day. But he says there's not enough business for even more taxis to hang around until people need them on big nights out.
“It’s always the same,” said Andrew. “Quiet Monday to Friday and then Saturday night is mega busy until 3am. It can be quiet all day and then someone calls at 11.30 pm on a Tuesday and complains if I don’t want to get out of bed for a £5 job.
“I used to work Sundays too but I was taking £30 a day, which wasn’t viable. Most people are lovely but there are those who expect us to be on call 24/7. I have a nine-year-old daughter and I want a life too."
Login
Register
FAQ
