Taxi Driver Online

Did anyone see the report on stretch limos on the BBC early evening news? (Presumably it might be on at 10 again)

Nothing that we didn't know already in the report, but it concluded that the problems arise because the legislation didn't forsee vehicles of this kind.

However, I would say that the problem is more a case of LAs turning a blind eye to the problem - they have sufficient powers to regulated stretch limos, but many simply don't use them.

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

I heard the story on Five Live at lunch-time, but then the bloody punters wouldn't shut up.

It was towards the end of the show, about 12.45pm, when the lad Bowling from PHM said he piece. The bits I heard were that 3 years ago there was 3,000 of these things, today it's 7,000, and in a years time it will be up to 10,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.sht ... aynews_thu"

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IDFIMH

I don't know very much about stretch limos in relation to Private Hire. Perhaps someone could answer these questions for me:

1) Why don't they have to display private hire plates like ordinary PHVs? Presumably, they are just ordinary PHVs.

2) Do local authorities have age limits for stretch limos?

I know different LAs will have different rules / requirements, but does anybody have a general idea?

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I think the point is that some are licensed and others arent.

personally, the whole taxi and ph trade should start a campaign stating that these vehicles aren't hip and cool, but awful tacky [edited by admin]

kids dont like awful tacky [edited by admin]

hehe

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I agree, the whole situation with stretch limos is out of hand.

Nobody could convince me that all these vehicles are safe - I bet half the conversions (or stretches) are done on the cheap.

I'd rather go for a night out in a TX1 or a Mondeo than one of these. And I'm sure licensing don't pull these over for spot checks on a Friday night.

What I want to know though, is where do they go for their tests (if they bother) - because they wouldn't fit on the ramps at my local MOT station.

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1) Because they are not, in the main (less than 5% IMHO), licensed. Thus the driver could be Attila the Hun, and the car could be as bad as a Blackpool cab.

2) For the minority of councils that do license these things, I expect they are quite flexible in the age limit department. I do agree with this, for no other reason than it's better to have a 15 year old licensed vehicle, than a brand new un-licensed one.

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IDFIMH

stop dissing blackpool

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

There are two main problems:

1 Some LAs simply don't license them;

2 As with everything else, those that do have different rules and regulations.

For example, I think some that do license them (Liverpool?) allow them not to display plates, because as with executive vehicles it's felt that the plates detract too much from the vehicle's appearance.

How this could possibly be the case with stretch limos I don't know, but of course you can't legislate for good taste!

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

hehe

detract from the vehicles appearance? what you mean like a [edited by admin] up scally with her boobs hanging out while shouting her gob off through the sunroof?

hehe

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If anyone wants to spend the night trying to listen to the story on BBC News, then you can try on;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/default.stm#

But I've given up. BTW it starts at 24.40 minutes.

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IDFIMH

Firstly - Blackpool's taxi fleet has come a long way in recent years, and we are now seeing quite a few new / near new taxis in the area. New - increased visibility - plates have recently been introduced aswell.

Secondly, though - Blackpool's PHVs do not have plates, just door signs with the council badge on. This, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous and is something that urgently needs addressing.

Blackpool is obviously a town with a lot of tourists and night - time revellers. These are the sort of people (esp. after a few drinks) that get into vehicles without carefully checking whether they are licensed.

Think how easy it is for someone to have a set of signs made up and go to work as an unlicensed Blackpool PH driver. Clubbers and tourists aren't going to look for the council badge. They'll see "XXX Private Hire" on the door, and to them, it is a 'proper', licensed vehicle.

It is high - time Blackpool Council issued plates for PH vehicles.

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I wonder how many other areas don't affix plates to PH, particulary in urban areas.

When Edinburgh was discussing them recently, we thougth that was exceptional, but maybe not.

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

I thought that Blackpool would be one of very few LAs without plates on their PHVs.

Are there many places with this situation?

It really is very dangerous and is something that needs to be looked at urgently.

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In London all they have is a bit of paper in the window.

Apparently the black cab boys think that's better than the plates that 99% of us all have.

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IDFIMH

I dont think its within the remit of hackney carriages to state what should and shouldnt be suitable for private hire, just as its not suitable the other way around.

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin