Taxi Driver Online

This new PHA was last mentioned in the thread about bus lane access.

Some reasonably interesting stuff here, but the author needs to get his terminology sorted out - I mean, guess what a 'private taxi' is, and what a 'cab taxi' is?


Reading private taxi drivers were in limbo over admin delays

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... in-delays/


James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service/Reading Chronicle

TAXI drivers in Reading have hit out at a number of private hire rules and regulations for local firms alongside long delays in licence renewals.

Late last year, the Reading Private Hire Association was founded to advocate for drivers who must have a booking from a customer to transport them, as opposed to cab taxis which can hailed on the spot.

The association is negotiating with Reading Borough Council’s licensing team to bring issues to their attention.

A big issue drivers have complained about is a backlog of renewals for their licences. This issue and more was discussed at a meeting between association executives and council officers at the Claim & Hire Specialist Office at 21 Boulton Road, Whitley.

Private hire licenses last for three years after which they must be renewed.

There had been a situation where drivers were left in limbo waiting for their applications to renew their licenses to be approved, with some licenses expiring during that wait period.

But the association was able to negotiate an ‘Entitlement to Drive’ so that licence holders could continue working following a meeting on December 19, 2022.

Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the association, said: “We’d like to thank licensing for reinstating the entitlement to drive, that’s been a massive help to all of our drivers, their really appreciative of what you’ve done.

“It was a blessing that drivers could get back to work.”

However, a backlog for licensing approvals remains.

Clyde Mason, a licensing officer for Reading Borough Council pointed out that the entitlement to drive applies to those who have submitted their re-applications six weeks prior to licence termination.

Licensing officer Anthony Chawama added that the entitlement to drive was removed as it was being exploited by some drivers who were leaving their re-applications to the last minute.

A series of other issues were raised at the meeting as well.

Drivers must attend in person safeguarding courses each time they obtain a licence. The association asked for this course to be done online after a driver attends their first course in person.

Officer Mason said the sessions are a statutory requirement but online courses could be looked into.

He added that drivers will be notified to attend a safeguarding course on the third year of their licence, giving them 11 months to attend such a course ready for their renewal application.

Drivers also require a DBS check to trade.

Furthermore, Mr Saddiq questioned the need for roof signs and side panels for private hire cars.

Currently, drivers have to display either roof signs or side panels to distinguish them from hackney carriages.

Officer Mason said the council’s licensing team was willing to hear proposed changes to the private hire display regime.

Mr Saddiq also asked for more clarity on penalties. A driver’s licence will be suspended for 14 days if they acquire 12 points on their licence.

Officer Mason explained that penalties are kept on record for four years, but no longer apply if there are no infractions after 12 months.

The meeting of the Reading Private Hire Association occurred on Tuesday, February 7.


James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service/Reading Chronicle

Private hire drivers, eh? Some would be cock-a-hoop to be allowed a roof sign, while others are moaning about them

At least they are being sensible on the motoring endorsements (points) unlike some who want to revoke licenses at 9, what planet are those LA's on?

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now a licensed hackney driver

Must have missed that from the various acts.

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IDFIMH

I think it's what's often known as a 'workaround'

Probably wouldn't survive legal action, but that's often the way it all works, as we all know

If it keeps drivers working then one can't be too critical, but let's hope none of those drivers has a serious accident with punters onboard.

Because I'm not convinced the insurance companies will be as accommodating as the council.

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IDFIMH

Council agrees to review taxi drivers’ use of east Reading bus lane



PRIVATE taxi drivers in Reading say they are making progress in a bid to use a bus lane which they believe would speed up their journeys.

While taxi and private hire cars have been able to use the inbound bus lane for King’s Road for over a decade, only black cab drivers can use the outbound lane towards Cemetery Junction and the A329m.

A group of private hire drivers launched the Reading Private Hire Association (RPHA) to lobby the council for access, and at a meeting of its council’s traffic management sub-committee the group’s proposal was discussed.

One of the drivers, Kamran Saddiq, said: “To be honest, we feel hard done by when we go to other boroughs, and we are not able to use their bus lanes due to their jurisdictions which we are not allowed to use because we are not from their boroughs.

“I don’t see why it’s fair that we are actually employed, we work for Reading Borough Council, we pay our licence and badge application fees here, that we are being deprived from the services we have been working tirelessly day and night to provide.”

Buses and taxis have been able to use the inbound bus lane for over a decade. In 2019, use of the lane was restricted to bus drivers, and only those cab and private hire drivers who are licensed with Reading Borough Council.

The change was introduced to speed up journey times by limiting which taxis could access the bus lane.

Mr Saddiq said: “It’s been three years and the volume of traffic has decreased by a major amount.

“There’s not been one single accident recorded from the private hire drivers in that bus lane.

Asif Rashid, chairman of the Reading Taxi Association, said the council needs to look at enforcement measures to ensure that rule-breaking taxi drivers from outside the area are punished.

Mr Saddiq also proposed changing the speed limit in Kings Road near Reading College to 20mph to improve safety.

John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for transport, thanked Mr Saddiq and the RPHA for their “good work” and said they have been “extremely responsible” in working with the council since the group was founded in December last year.

Cllr Ennis then introduced a proposal for an informal consultation into allowing Reading private hire drivers to use the outbound bus lane, rather than a statutory consultation which was recommended by the council’s highways officers.

He said he would have liked for the results of the consultation to come back in November, but was advised that the consultation would have to be reported in January to ensure it is properly undertaken.

Cllr Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition, voiced support for private hire drivers to use the outbound bus lane, and echoed Mr Saddiq’s concerns about road safety, citing Crash Map UK data showing approximately 25 slight crashes, eight serious crashes, and, on May 17, 2018, a fatal crash in Kings Road.

He suggested setting set up a councillor working group to investigate Kings Road safety, but that was voted down by committee members.

Opposition councillors James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) and Stephen Goss (Conservative, Emmer Green) both agreed that there should be ‘consistency’.

Cllr Ennis’ amended motion to launch a statutory consultation was agreed unanimously, which saw Mr Saddiq thank councillors.

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IDFIMH