Taxi Driver Online

Warning over booking taxis

Dudley News!



A stark warning has been issued to taxi users across Dudley borough to ensure they pre-book private hire vehicles.

Taxi users are reminded it is illegal for a private hire vehicle to carry passengers if the journey has not been pre-booked.

If it is not pre-booked it will mean the vehicle is not insured.

Sedgley-based Beacon Taxis is leading the way by running a leaflet campaign to make customers aware of the need to pre-book vehicles.

Any driver of a private hire vehicle caught taking customers without a booking could end up before the courts.

On conviction they could receive fines for plying for hire and driving without insurance plus up to eight penalty points.

All these drivers would then be required to appear before Dudley Council’s taxis committee for a review of their licences, which could result in suspension or revocation.

Councillor Doreen Ameson, chair of Dudley Council's taxis committee, said: “I welcome Beacon Taxis stance on this issue and hope other firms across the borough will follow suit.

"It is important we get the message across to the public that private hire vehicles are not hackney carriages and you must pre-book them.”

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

It is a common misconception and not widely known that the vehicle and its occupants are always insured, it is the driver who commits an offence because he himself is not insured for public hire.

Regards

JD

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

This has been going on since time and memoral. Tell us something we don't know. It is the most difficult thing to educate the public to something they aren't really interested in cos lets face it when it's p****n down with rain, cold and late they don't care, they just want to get home. When faced with HC's that don't want to travel outside their comfort zone or will if you bribe them sufficiently enough, who can blame the public for trying to get into PH vehicles. This is one of the main reasons that I believe ALL TAXIS should be licenced in the same manner. Private hire vehicles should consist of all those other types like limo's, fun buses, coaches etc.

It wouldn't make a lot difference to those that are outside the area trying to get home but at least the competition may encourage the HC's to actually do the job they are licensed for.

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!