Licensed minicab firm’s plea over rogue drivers
By Gemma Wheatley
Comment
Fair's fare: Licenced cab drivers have to pay £800 each to operate.
Cab drivers in Croydon are becoming increasingly concerned about the numbers of unlicensed drivers operating in the borough.
Drivers have told the Croydon Guardian that on an average Saturday night in the town centre there can be up to 10 unlicensed cabs waiting in High Street, under the noses of local police.
One driver said: "Not only is it illegal but very dangerous for young ladies out at night and when these people are that drunk at the end of the night they don't know how to recognise a real cab.
"It is also taking trade from honest cab drivers who had to pay out on average £800 to get the licence to begin with."
Local firms in the area have been aware of the problem for some time and say there needs to be more public awareness about how dangerous getting in theses cars can be.
Diana Kendall, proprieter of Kendall Cars in West Croydon, said: "Sadly, when people have had a drink or two on a weekend or during the week they just want to get home and they will jump into any car. It is incredible they will do it because they are unchecked drivers in cars that are not registered and or traceable.
"They are just people with cars and it is unbelievable people will just get into the car with them, some of them are just perverts in a car."
Licensed drivers are also becoming frustrated because unlicensed cars are taking away their business in what is an already difficult industry.
Mrs Kendall added: "It is not cheap to be a licensed driver and it is so frustrating for the drivers because there should be more enforcement but it all comes down to money in the end. Over the last few months I have actually seen the touts pull people out of our queues on a Saturday night.
"They can be really dangerous these cars, hopefully the worse that will happen to someone is they will get overcharged but heaven only knows what could happen."
A spokesman for Transport for London said: "??Leave space for 50 words??"
The problem was recognised by the council earlier this year when it launched a transport marshal scheme which provides marshals at the taxi ranks in Katharine Street to ensure passengers get in licensed vehicles.
6:24am Sunday 10th December 2006
I'm sure the 'leave space for 50 words' is a printing error, or is it?
Licenced minicab drivers have to pay £800 each to operate.
£800? that's about the cost of my annual overhaul.
