Taxi Driver Online

Women Warned On Dangers Of Illegal Cabs

23rd September 2008

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has reiterated the dangers of using illegal cabs, warning that “it is just not safe” to use unlicensed touts.

The warning comes as Mayor Johnson, Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service launched the latest phase of the Safer Travel at Night campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of using illegal cabs.

Thanks to the Cabwise service users within the capital can get numbers for two local licensed minicab firms and a black cab company by texting HOME to 60835. The Mayor said the service “is a number that all those going out in London should save on their mobiles.”

According to statistics released by TfL the proportion of women using illegal cabs to get home late at night has fallen from 19 per cent in 2003 to three per cent in 2008. Despite this fall, official police figures show that 104 cab-related sexual attacks were committed in 2007.

Johnson’s warnings have been backed by Chief Superintendent Joe Royle, of the Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU), who cautioned that “the dangers of taking an illegal minicab should never be underestimated.”

The latest phase of the Safer Travel at Night campaign, which includes outdoor poster, radio and tv advertising, has been timed to co-incide with the arrival of thousands of university students in the Capital, many of whom are unfamiliar with London’s late night travel options.


Source; MayorWatch

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

i'd be interested to see some official figures on how many PH drivers have had their licence revoked under the new "one strike and you're out" scheme against touting.

104 cases is still far too many and the touting still goes on with inpunity, time for TOCU to get a proper grip on the situation

I'd also like to know why they're exempt from parking regulations in Westminster and the City. Using double yellow lines, taxi ranks and disabled bays as ranks, while chatting to traffic wardens, all in view of the cameras.

Is there any age limit on these? I've seen some really dodgy london "PH" Cabs at Heathrow and Gatwck!

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

has anybody else noticed how during the day,miniscabs all use south carriage drive as a car park ,and the wardens just walk by.

Well I wish you all good luck in the quest for answers to these questions. I having been asking Borough commanders, chief constables, local councillors, London assembly members, TFL members, PCO officers, TOCU squad members and MP's for well over two years now. You sometimes get a reply saying they will look into the situation but you never get any follow up.
With the exception of Peter Hulme Cross and Robert Blackman who lobbied hard for our case to be heard but could not get beyond Peter Hendy the commissioner of TFL who is extremely biased against the London Taxi Trade. This was the man by the way who set up the clipboard Johnnie and gave them a license.
Peter H Cross asked question on our behalf at the Mayors question time and authored a report that had many recommendations to combat the onslaught of the touting PHV drivers.
Unfortunately the trade let both Assembly Members down and at the last election, never voted for them.
I also have emailed Bob Oddie at his new email address bob.oddie@tfl.gov.uk but have not as yet received a reply.

asking what questions?

CC

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

Should GBC become the new Chair of the LTDA?

I could appoint you as the county mounty cab advisor . . . you'll get your own air conditioned office.

For the 567th time.

Will they stop getting into any car that moves?

No. That would require a degree of responsibility.

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