Sussex wrote:
Quote:
The Operator will monitor drivers working hours to ensure they are safe to transport the public. Although there is no legal framework for taxi drivers hours, it is incumbent upon the Operator to ensure drivers do not work excessive hours and that they are fit to drive and thus will not put the public at risk.
I think legally operators, as well as drivers for that matter, have a duty of care for their customers.
If an operator passes a job to a driver who has been working excessive hours, then that operator can be in as much trouble as the driver should something nasty happen.
Not sure I like the idea of operators being held accountable for something so vague.
And what about HCs and HC circuits? As MCF said earlier, he works the ranks, works with a circuit at the same time, and does his own bookings. I mean, who can be held accountable here, and how would it be regulated?
Then there's the usual thing about what constitutes work:
- sitting on a rank waiting for work
- sitting in a car park waiting for work
- sitting in McDonald's waiting for work
- sitting at home waiting for work
Didn't Uber recently stipulate some sort of hourly limit? Can't be bothered looking back, but as I recall it they muddied the thing to make it look better than it actually was. Then of course Uber drivers are free to do their own work or to work for another operator.
So it's all a bit wooly, and would very probably just end up benefitting the unscrupulous, and penalising the better operators. Thus just like a lot of the current rules that aren't enforced. But typical of councils to be adding more rules and guidelines when they'd maybe be better enforcing the existing ones.
