Taxi Driver Online

As with most of the drivers and operators on this forum I can speak of my own experiences where I work and live In London and Surrey respectivly.

When I first moved to Surrey before I was in the trade I found this all very confussing I did not know the difference between a PH or a Hack, they all had signage and had similar types of cars, not like London where you clearly itentify a taxi by its make and model.

I have given Signage in london for PH a great deal of thought over the years and have come to the following conclusion.

Signage on PHV in London should not be allowed at all, greencabby is totally correct regarding the affect it will have on confusing the punters and open up a whole lot more touting. Further to this I do not want my companies name splashed all over my s class mercs thanks. Neither will my prestegious customers.

As for alerting customers which car to look for I believe CORDIC has a good system it auto dispatches and will send the details of the car to the punters mobile by text.

Could you come on and explain your system to us please CORDIC

Regards Eric

A view not shared by me.

As far as I'm aware PH signage will not be compulsory, so both you and your pukka customers can rest assured.

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IDFIMH

So we will now have people walking up and down the road checking registration numbers.

And what about bookings taken from people via a land line? Are we going to have to ask customers for their mobile numbers, just so they can get a car?

This all might seem just fine and dandy to a small (ish) operator, but to a big fleet it ain't going to happen.

That aside, exacatly what is wrong with LPH firms advertising their LPH phone number on their cars?

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IDFIMH

Sussex wrote:



I do not see any difference between this and people looking for a particular company myself



Of course not it will more a case of where they may be at risk of touts then they should provide this, anyway a tout is very unlikley to be plying trade from outside residential properties with landlines and punters going to pubs, clubs ect would always give a mobile contact no, if they did not you would be mad to even take the booking in this day and age., All my
customers give a mobile without being specifically asked.

I am not suggesting the regs chane where they working all I am saying is if these same rules were to be applied in London then not only would the unmarked cars and illegal touts still be there, but also it would increase the PHD temptation to accept a return which is still touting.

I would like to know more about this CORDIC system as it is being used very sucessfuly by a very large operator in London, which sugests it is not just for the small guy's

Kind regard Eric

I would think it a lot easier to spot a LPH via proper signage than the normal registration number.

But say the customer did get into the wrong car, wouldn't it be better if they got into (by accident) a licensed LPH rather than an un-licensed tout.

Surely anyway to make sure of that is better for all concerned.

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IDFIMH

I have always believed that there should be one system across the UK for taxi and PHV licensing.

All taxis (i.e. Hackney Carriages) should be purpose - built. By this I mean that they should have an integral 'TAXI' light. This would include vehicles such as TX1, TXII, Fairway, Metrocab, Eurotaxi, E7, Eurocab. All HCs should carry a plate tot he front and rear.

All PH vehicles should be saloons, minibuses, people carriers and stretch limousines. All PHVs should carry a front and rear plate as well as door signs witht he company name and phone number and the words 'PRIVATE HIRE ONLY'.

This is a simple system that operates in many areas already. It clearly differentiates between PH and HC, and avoids any confusion.

I recently spent some time in Fife, where the majority of HCs are saloon cars. The HCs carry roof lights to identify them. The PHVs in the area carry no signage at all, just a small rear plate.

I believe that mixed HC fleets should be done away with and a policy of 100% purpose built introduced by every LA. If councils plated the 'Euro' type taxis, then drivers would have a greater choice and there would be no reason why it could not work.

The UKs taxi licensing offices really need to get up to date.

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Visit TAXIPIX at www.taxipix.fotopic.net

A sound post, many interestiong points.

Regards

JD

Wise words from a wise chap.

You'll come round to the idea eventualy.

A choice, my kingdom for a choice.

I couldn't agree more.

The time has come for all drivers to be given a choice, PH or taxi, but without having to pay up to £50,000 for a taxi plate.

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IDFIMH

Picked up a flyer in Kent on saturday. The punter gave me a massive bundle of notes, to help me "forget" that I took them to Heathrow (darn!) I was thinking that buying a £50k taxi plate would be the solution to my laundering problem. So, Sussex, do tell, where would be the best LA to visit, to buy a £50,000 taxi plate?

Toronto and New York are off my list, by the way.

Take your pick.

page 14 http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/quotalas.pdf

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IDFIMH

You could try Mr 187ums's plate in Oxford, but it might cost you a bit more than £50k.

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Taxi Driver Online
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