Taxi Driver Online

Herald Express (Torquay)

February 12, 2007 Monday

HEADLINE: Taxis bring in smoking ban

Smoking has been banned from all Teignbridge taxis.

New regulations mean drivers and customers will no longer be allowed to light up inside private hire or hackney carriages across the district.

The ban was adopted by Teignbridge District Council's regulatory and appeals committee meeting, four months ahead of a national smoking ban in cabs on July 1.

While it is still uncertain how the prohibition will be policed, employers have already welcomed the moves. Patrons who try and smoke in the cabs will be refused passage, or told to get out.

Teignbridge Taxi and Private Hire Association chairman Aubrey Pitts said he 'totally agreed' with the ban. "We already tell our drivers not to smoke in the cabs, as it doesn't exactly make for the best smelling vehicles," he said. "I'm a reformed smoker, and I am glad they've chosen to bring the ban in early. It's going to be law anyhow, so people might as well get used to it." Mr Pitts said cigarettes had long been a cabbies' nightmare because careless customers often stubbed their smokes out on the taxi's upholstery.

"It's disgusting and makes us look unprofessional," he said. Dawlish taxi driver John Partridge also welcomed the new law. "It's about time they did something like this," he said. "For starters, smoking in a confined space just shouldn't be allowed and we've not been happy that our cars get so damaged by cigarette ends and smoke.

"Sometimes you check the back seat and the whole thing is covered in cigarette burns." Cabbies will also have the final say on whether a passenger can eat or drink in their car. On the weekends, passengers with greasy takeaway, alcohol or other food may be refused a ride. Committee chairwoman Sandra Heath said those measures had been formalised to help drivers, who often were left to 'clean up the mess' after drunken passengers.

Mr Partridge said while customers during the week were generally careful, those using cabs to get home on the weekend were often 'disgusting'. "I had one group come on the mini bus once and by the time they left it wasn't fit for anyone, not even cattle" he said.

"When they come out of the clubs they pile in after drinking, still eating kebabs and junk that just ends up everywhere. It's just terrible and a real headache for us." Other new rules adopted by the committee include a recommended dress code for drivers.

Operators will be expected to enforce a no baseball hats or shorts policy to make drivers look more professional to patrons. Advertising rules will be also change so some signs on taxis are larger and operators are more easily recognised.

A request from private car operators to affix lights on the top of their vehicles was turned down by the committee, on the basis that it would make them look too similar to hackney carriages. Cllr Heath said: "In the words of another, we don't want our fleet looking like a multi-coloured swap shop, but I think these changes will make it easier for customers to distinguish between a hackney carriage that they can hail, and a private vehicle which they can only ride in if they have pre-booked."

She added that the changes had been made after a lengthy consultation with operators, and the full list would be released later this week.
___________________________