Taxi Driver Online

Passengers left in the dark over random taxi rules


A leading south coast taxi dealer is backing a call for a UK-wide standard on licensing regulations for taxis to maintain standards in the industry and safeguard passenger safety.

Taxiwise, the national campaign for the safe use of taxis is backing the call, saying rules on the type of vehicle used as a taxi and licensing policy needed to be standardised to avoid confusion.

Colin Case, sales manager at Smith and Humphrey, based in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, has spoken up to highlight the difficulties that having so many different rules cause and back the call for standard rules. “We have got 46 different councils in the area we cover – and every one of them has different licensing regulations for taxis,” said Colin,

“Some of them completely contradict each other. What this means is that there is no continuity in the standard of vehicle or type of vehicle which can be used as a Hackney carriage. The result is passengers have no clear idea of what is a properly licensed taxi and what is not and so are more likely to fall prey to offenders posing as taxi drivers to pick up people on the street.

“At the very least these rogue drivers have no insurance. At worst, someone can end up dead. “Having a nationally-set standard, maintaining those regulations already seen in the safest areas now, would make it safer for people travelling by cab and ensure high standards were maintained in the industry.”

There are 22 mandatory areas across the UK, including London, which have the highest standards on what type of vehicle can be used as a taxi. To be licensed as Hackney carriage, the vehicle must undergo strict checks, have set safety features and a set, tight turning circle to enable it to manoeuvre easily in narrow streets.

The instantly-recognisable London-style taxi is one vehicle that meets these criteria. People get into a black taxi they can be as sure as possible that the cab they are using is legitimate. In other vehicles, it is less easy to be sure and passengers must check on individual council licensing regulations and a driver’s licence before entering a vehicle.

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IDFIMH

Is there any council anywhere that doesn't license a TX?

If not then what is this mush on about?

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IDFIMH

Its just a sales pitch for LTI cabs.

However I agree with the demand for a more standardised set of regulations, or a new set of taxi laws.....now didn't I see that on some other petition thread?

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Our safety is Paramount

You beat me to it Grandad I wonder if he is on the LTI payroll.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U

I may be wrong, but isn't this Taxiwise outfit funded by LTI?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Smith and Humpreys just happen to be, by chance surely, the South East's LTI main dealer.

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IDFIMH

Absolutely spot on. If every council were to adopt the high standards set by London, we could have the best taxi service in the world, a title currently held by London anyway. Someone should start a Downing Street petition, which I would definately sign 50 times.

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Former taxi driver

bit of a givaway.
pity they never mention this is achieved using a 60 year old setup that requires a lot of maintenance................

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Everyone loves the traditional TX its what Britain is all about besides red telephone boxes et al (OH we lost them too) But if a beloved traditional design could be made at a cheaper price then it would be more welcome. Turning circle is nice but is it really worth teh extra? Also lethal on ice. Like a curling stone. When i started the TX plus extras cost £35,000. Replacing it with the E7 with extras cost £21,000. At the end of the day the taxi owner is running a business. not paid for upholding romantic traditions of old england. And TXs mean restricted to certain garages Smith and Humphrey being one of them. (No further comment) But Bexhill on Sea is just 7 miles down the road and I know the route to S & H blindfolded. They have a valid interest - theirs.

Agree with any body pushing to make requirements standard and more intelligent.

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Safety In Taxis. Website and survey.Raising awareness of safety in taxis for driver and passenger.

Is there any council anywhere that doesn't license a TX?

TX lethal in snow and ice. Made for London. Not adviseable North of the border. No TX goes out when it snows and ices down here. Especially as Hastings 80% hills. But then it is over in a few days if not by dinner time.

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Safety In Taxis. Website and survey.Raising awareness of safety in taxis for driver and passenger.

This outfit is allied to LTI and as such just like LTI it is bias in favour of LTI vehicles.

It is nice of them to inform us of the fact there are only 22 councils who only license vehicles with a specified turning circle. Perhaps Taxiwise may be kind enough to name these councils?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

Back in 2003 the association with LTI was established in this article which points out Taxiwise was an initiative, launched by police and Hackney carriage manufacturer London Taxis International. Just what involvement the police have is anyones guess as there doesn't appear to be any immediate visible evidence of their current or past involvement?
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Leicester Mercury

May 13, 2003

Taxiwise highlights dangers to women

Police across the country are investigating hundreds of sex attacks linked to people posing as taxi drivers. All legitimate private hire and black cabs are licensed by local authorities, but in some cities there is a thriving underground taxi market.

Drivers in Leicester, who say there is evidence of the practice in the city, today welcomed the Taxiwise campaign.

The initiative, launched by police and Hackney carriage manufacturer London Taxis International, aims to help women spot the signs of an illegal car.

Leicester Hackney carriage driver John Lyons said: "We know this goes on. We see these people out looking for business mainly on Friday and Saturday nights, so it is good someone is trying to make people aware of it.

"It can be very dangerous because people have no idea who they are getting into a car with, especially if it is the young ones who have had a drink or two." A spokeswoman for the Taxiwise campaign said it hoped to raise awareness through the media.

It has also printed thousands of cards reminding people of the dangers and the signs to look out for. These will be distributed to cab companies, drivers' organisations, and universities and colleges.

Police in London, where illegal drivers are thought to have carried out 158 attacks last year, launched Project Sapphire to curb the underground trade. Jim Stokeley, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "One of the aims of Project Sapphire is to prevent rapes and sexual assaults happening in the first place.

"One way of doing this is to expose the dangers and give advice on how to avoid danger, which is precisely what Taxiwise is setting out to achieve." Pc Phil Caswell, of the city centre police's violence and disorder team, said: "If there is evidence that illegal taxis are operating in the city, we would like to hear from the licensed drivers and anyone who has any information."
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Further proof that Taxiwise is an LTI invention. We have to ask whether or not there was and there is, an ulterior motive behind this awareness campaign and is it solely directed at increasing sales of LTI vehicles and perhaps denigrating the vehicles of other vehicle manufacturers?
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Coventry Evening Telegraph

May 17, 2003, Saturday

TAXI SAFETY GUIDE ISSUED FOR WOMEN; BLACK-CAB MAKER BACKS CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT DANGERS

BYLINE: HAYLEY CUTHBERTSON SIMPLE SAFETY STEPS:

"A COVENTRY taxi maker has joined forces with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to highlight the dangers of bogus minicabs and unlicensed private hire cars."

LTI (London Taxis International) - the biggest maker of black cabs in the UK - has launched a publicity campaign called Taxiwise in response to the increasing number of bogus taxis and women who fall prey to incidents including verbal abuse, overcharging and sex attacks.

The firm, based in Holyhead Road, Coundon, has produced a leaflet and website to highlight some of the incidents which have happened after women have accepted lifts in illegal minicabs.

Statistics from the Metropolitan Police reveal that one woman a week is seriously assaulted by a bogus minicab driver in the capital alone.

Backed by the safety charity set up by missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh's mother Diana, the website www.taxiwise.com aims to educate women of the dangers and advise them of simple safety steps they can take when planning a journey.

LTI sales and marketing director Nicki Websper said: "The number of attacks on women by men posing as bona fide private hire or minicab drivers is a clear indication that there is a lack of awareness among women of which vehicles are safe and legal."

"After a night out, many women are just keen to get home and often do not stop to check if the vehicle they are getting into is what the driver says it is - often with disastrous consequences."

The campaign is encouraging women to take Hackney carriages - or black cabs - which can be safely hailed in the street or at a taxi rank, or plan ahead and book a private hire car, which have licence plates. Drivers of both kind of taxi should carry identification.
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Coventry Evening Telegraph

January 13, 2004, Tuesday

HEADLINE: PIRATE CABS: ASSAULT CASE STUDY

ORGANISERS of a Coventry-backed scheme to make women more aware of the dangers of getting into unlicensed mini-cabs want to hear from victims of assault.

The Taxiwise scheme was launched in the city last April with the support of London Taxis International in Holy-head Road, Coundon, and the Diana Lamplugh Trust.

A recent investigation by the Metropolitan Police revealed that one woman every week is raped and a further 158 reported assaults occurred after accepting a ride in an illegal minicab.

But there are no figures available for the regions and organisers are keen to find out how much of a problem illegal cabs pose in Coventry. Celeste Clarke, spokeswoman for the taxi firm, said: "There are no statistics to support the number of such attacks in the region because the police have not looked into it in such detail.

"If anyone has had an unpleasant experience or are worried about anything related to the campaign, we would be interested to hear from them because the more case studies we can become aware of the better."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact organisers through the campaign's website, on www.taxiwise.com, or email them on ***nwebsper@lti.co.uk***
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I think that email address Speaks for itself.
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A quote from LTI's Mathew Cheney South Wales Echo January 15, 2004,

HEADLINE: BOGUS CAB DRIVERS ARE TARGETED

Spokesman for Taxiwise Matthew Cheyne said: 'These attacks are happening every day all over the country. It's a serious problem and one that must be eradicated.

I think that just about sums up the history of Taxiwise but perhaps we should call it "LTI Taxiwise" in future?

Regards

JD