Dear, oh dear. A 'taxi safety' *education* campaign which makes a complete hash of the vehicle ID stuff. Which is emphasised by the photos of the plates, and also the caption below them, but they're too big to display, so just links included
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
I mean, there's stuff that you can pick holes in, and there's stuff with craters that can be seen from outer space. It's more or less saying that you can jump into either HC or PH on the street
Taxi safety campaign for ‘education and prevention’ launched in Kirkcaldy
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/co ... kirkcaldy/
The campaign includes advice on avoiding rogue operators after a worrying allegation in the town earlier this month.
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A taxi safety campaign, which includes advice to help the public avoid rogue drivers, has been launched in Kirkcaldy.
A&S Taxis boss Kenny Cameron, who is spearheading the Driven by Safety initiative, also wants to raise professional standards through driver training in areas like first aid and vehicle inspection and investing in identifiable uniforms and vehicle safety cameras.
He said one local business is ready to print public safety awareness posters for display in pubs in the town once the messaging and design is finalised.
These will also be part of a social media campaign.
Mr Cameron told The Courier: “This is all about education and prevention and giving people the tools to be safer when it comes to getting taxis home.
“It’s about keeping vulnerable people safe.”
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More than a dozen Kirkcaldy businesses are already backing the campaign, which he says has been in the pipeline for some time but has been accelerated by concerns over a recent alleged incident.
Earlier this week, a man appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court accused of abducting two women by pretending to be a taxi driver and allegedly sexually assaulted one of them.
Speaking of the new campaign, Mr Cameron pointed out a need to raise taxi safety awareness ahead of summer events such as the Fifa World Cup, with Kirkcaldy’s Fife Ice Arena set to be a fan zone location for the late-night Scotland games.
Mr Cameron, 35, continued: “If we are going to have this many visitors to Kirkcaldy then taxi safety is a big thing.
“It’ll be a great atmosphere. Everyone will be in a good mood, and the last thing we want is for mistakes to happen or for something to go wrong.
“So, if we are able to educate folk or give them the tools to keep themselves safe, then that’s what we aim to do.”
Verifying a legitimate taxi
Mr Cameron says anyone – be it a lone woman, man or older person – could be vulnerable to a rogue taxi operator for various reasons, including theft or robbery.
He highlighted a variety of ways for people to check they are entering a legitimate taxi.:
- • Ask to see a driver’s taxi licence (a hackney licence);
• Check for an illuminated yellow or white taxi roof sign;
• Look for a yellow or white sticker in the front windscreen with a number identifying the taxi;
• Check for a yellow or white council licensed plate on the back which displays a taxi number, an expiry date, and informs how many passengers are permitted;
• If pre-booking a taxi, ask the driver “what’s the name?” or “who are you here for?” instead of saying “are you for (your own name)” as someone running their own car along the street could just say “aye, in you come”;
• Send a friend or family member your live location on your phone so someone can track you
• Go to a taxi sitting with other vehicles in a busy area rather than a vehicle parked on its own further along a street and separate from the rank. “Stick to where the crowd is, stick to where the taxis are,” Mr Cameron says.
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Examples of official taxi badges to check for, from A&S taxis (yellow) and Taxi Central (white) Images: Supplied/DC Thomson
Investing in safety
In terms of his own business, which he runs with his father, Mr Cameron said they have invested in uniforms as a way for people to easily identify their drivers, and he is looking at the possibility of installing safety cameras in their vehicles too.
He says he has also gone into different premises handing out business cards, which can be given to customers.
Mr Cameron said his company is considering running certain courses for drivers, including first aid and training for more efficient vehicle safety checks.
He stressed part of the safety aspect is for taxis in general to raise professional standards because they need to be able to justify themselves in a more competitive market.
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He made clear he does not think Kirkcaldy is an unsafe place.
“In the grand scheme of things, compared to other places, it’s actually quite a safe place and it’s got a really good atmosphere.
“What we’re trying to do is slightly improve the standards so it’s a wee bit safer for everybody else, and it’s trying to get everybody into this ‘looking out for each other’ mentality.
“If we can make things safer and put everyone’s mind at ease, it can’t be a bad thing.”
He also suggested having street pastors in Kirkcaldy on some weekends could help “prevent things from happening before they escalate.”
Mr Cameron added: “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who is supporting this campaign.”
Backing for campaign
Blythe Marshall, manager of The Duchess pub and chairman of the local pub watch group, is among those backing it.
He said: “Kirkcaldy is already a safe place and we just want to encourage people to be safer.”
He also stressed the importance of encouraging pub staff, door stewards and taxi drivers to work together to be vigilant when people are leaving pubs and clubs at night.
Businesses involved in the campaign at the time of writing include: A&S Taxis, Kirkcaldy Cabs, Taxi Central, The Sign Co, The Linton Lane Centre, The Duchess, Styx, The Penny Farthing, The Exchequer, The Venue, Montagues, The Wheatsheaf Inn, Krafty, O’Connells, The Robert Nairn (Wetherspoon), and community Facebook group Love Kirkcaldy.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We would encourage anyone using a taxi or private hire vehicle to take steps to ensure it is legitimate, such as checking the vehicle licence plate and that the driver is displaying a valid ID badge.
“The public is also encouraged to remain vigilant and report any concerns about unlicensed or unauthorised taxi drivers to the local authority.
“If you have any concerns or fear for your safety, police can be contacted on 101, or 999 in an emergency.”
