Taxi Driver Online

I would disagree Rambo, mostly on the grounds that when we get a pull from the likes of the PCO, if the vehicle is not up to their standard and by that i mean even down to the ashtrays being in place, we can be liable to a stop! I know as i have friends who have been stopped for that very reason; with that in mind it seems that it should not be one rule for one and another rule for the other. If i removed my rear wiper then got stopped by the PCO i'd be willing to bet a fair few quid that i would be holding a stop notice by the end of the conversation...........if the vehicle is fitted with a rear wiper, it should have a rear wiper.

I know this is a petty subject but the main thrust of my argument is that if minor legalities are ignored and by that i mean rear wipers, outsized signage then ultimately you end up with the lines being crossed on other things such as i cited in another thread; the bus lane down the M4, left ignored the rules no lniger apply and you end up with a total free for all.........The PCO told us they wanted a level playing field, well if thats the case then what would be a stop for us must surely be a stop for the PH trade too!

Whilst i'm typing this i'm reminded of what happened to another friend who had a livery on his taxi a few years back; someone had come along and drawn a pair of glasses on the person on the advert and had peeled off a small section about the size of an A4 sheet of paper. He was working at Waterloo when a PCO came up to him as he approached point on the rank (bearing in mind he had waited about 20-25 mins during kipper season) and told him to pull off as he wanted to inspect his cab! He was then given a stop for having the damaged livery on his taxi, he tried to argue his case saying that it was hardly detrimental to public safety and that the livery was due to be replaced in a fortnights time but the PCO would have none of it. He then had to get the livery changed, go up to the yard (pre SGS) and get the cab inspected before being allowed to go back to work.

No disrespect to any PH drivers here but you really are new to the whole licencing regime and the quirks of the likes of the PCO, you've not had that many years of having to comply to the strictest of rules and having to ask how high when the PCO says jump! We as a trade have had many years of dealings with the PCO, taking the vehicle up the yard and having it fail because of stupid things such as adverts on tax disk holders or missing fuel cut off switch stickers (i kid you not), nothing dangerous but the PCO chaps either wanted a pay rise or were unhappy with their current management, either way we were the focus of their gripes and paid for it many times over with stops and failures up the yard!

If i sound condesending then i make no apology for that, we are the front line veterans to you REMF's; we've had it for many years and sadly you also need to realise that the rules are there to be followed, be that smoking in your vehicle or using a phone without a handsfree (which i've seen taxi and PH drivers doing), having the vehicle to a required standard or following the correct legalities when it comes to signage, rear wiper arms or any other rulings imposed.

I hear this ashtray story a lot.

It’s similar to the Knowledge student and the Dictaphone on the desk one. See you in 56 days etc etc.

I never have an ashtray fitted and I've never had a stop. I even pointed it out at the 6 monthly back in July by offering to refit it before it went into the inspection shed, but inspecting officer never batted an eyelid.

It passed with flying colours.

Having witnessed the stinking attitude of some drivers when their cabs are inspected on a rank (never seen anyone on point being checked) it really doesn’t surprise me the C.O will find something wrong, after all they're doing their job. If a driver is an [edited by admin], then the C.O will treat them as such.

I've also noted over the years that the 'attitude crew' are usually driving a shed.

Strange that?

There we go again, nothing but put downs and twaddle, blah blah blah, if only every cab driver could be like me!

You only get away with the lies and insults on this forum because there are only a handful of London Taxi drivers on here. Don't see any of this rubbish on your posts on other London Taxi forums.


I know four drivers who's cabs failed for not replacing the rear ash tray and one who's headlight bulb expired during an examination, although he had a replacement and offered to change the bulb, he was failed. Not a shed but a one year old TX4.
Its only PHV's that they are lenient with. Proof again, I think, that your not a Licensed taxi driver, just a trouble maker, brown nosing the CO's.

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Does he realy exist or is he a figment of his own avitar

www.ltcpr.blogspot.com/

www.theandersonshelter.blogspot.com/

http://www.thelondondailynews.com/

As you or your punters can no longer smoke why not ask the testing station to remove ashtrays from the list as they are no longer needed

See you really should be our rep on the board of TFL.
Bob Oddie just say's we should comply nor complain.

_________________
Does he realy exist or is he a figment of his own avitar

www.ltcpr.blogspot.com/

www.theandersonshelter.blogspot.com/

http://www.thelondondailynews.com/

Well that may be so but i can give you the name of the guy it happened to if it would convince you it's not just an urban myth. I must point out this happened in the days of the PCO doing the inspections and not under SGS, i too have found them somewhat more lenient when it comes to inspections; in September when i went up to SGS for my annual on my old shed of a cab as you nicely put it (10 years old, 185k and running like a dream......oh and clean!!) my livery had been damaged over the wekeend and i was presenting Monday morning first thing, i pointed out the damage to the inspector and his reply was "it's hardly going to endanger anyones life" a far cry from the days of the PCO when everyone except the likes of GBC had a rough time with the guys at the yard!

I only pray when I'm old and withered like you Clive, I'll have much more to do with my life than you seem to have.

Then again, I already know the answer to that question.




You're certainly consistent on the other forums, you tell lies, just like you do on here.

I'm sure I don't have to point out one driver out of 25'000 makes it a common occurrence?

I don't believe I ever referred to your cab as a shed, given that I don't know you or your cab, I'd have great difficulty stating a point of view on either.

I never had a problem with the PCO days either, a lot comes down to an individuals appearance mannerisms and attitude. In fact, my Taxi's have always passed every inspection they've undergone.

That’s the problem, some drivers will always take advice from the clowns who proffer to be trade experts (and keyboard warriors) and actually believe it.

Apologies, you refer to older cabs as sheds so made the assumption that my cab being 10 years old would automatically fall under that term.



I don't seem to recall ever saying it was a common occurance, just that it had happened!



I don't take anyones advice nor do i sheepishly follow what others do unless i feel compelled to do so by my own feelings on a subject.



Fair play to you! I'd say that you're a rarity for London, i've always presented my taxis myself, am well turned out, polite and have a respect for the PCO's doing their job but yet have had cabs fail!!

GBC your just to good to be true......................................

Age is a factor, but my last TX1 was 10 years old, it was still mint.
The 1990 Fairwaydriver before that was also retired in tip top condition, I think you're aware of what constitutes a 'shed', just look at the rental fleets in Three Colts Lane, there's more sheds there than in Homebase.



I agree, however that one and the tax disc one seems to have done the rounds for as long as I can remember.

There's plenty of other more serious stops drivers seem to forget about.



I never said it had any reference to you.



I must be lucky then, mind you the £50 works wonders plus I have a good garage and double check it myself for leaks every week.

I agree.

I've always maintained and adhered to high standards, both in life and the Cabs I own.

No disrespect to any PH drivers here but you really are new to the whole licencing regime and the quirks of the likes of the PCO,

That's part of the problem, taxi drivers have been dealing with the PCO for years and STILL get it tits up!
Since licensing of mini cabs I have always passed the test first time and never had any problems. Maybe because I read up on the rules/regulations and make sure my vehcile is spot on when presented for test.

I know loads of mini cabs that have failed thier test because they don't read the rules/regulations before presenting thier mini cabs for test.

I also know loads of taxi drivers who fail thier test first time because they did'nt read the rules/regulations(most go in gina's on bethnal grn rd).

I do not wish to upset anyone, but what p*sses me of more than anything is black cab drivers in london telling me about the rules of PH when they don't even know thier own rules/regulations!

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stressed controller!!!

I can understand your annoyance of perhaps our blatant arrogance.......or perhaps just my arrogance but i'll explain where i'm coming from:

Testing under the PCO was a whole different thing to being tested by SGS, i have 2 taxis and both of them have never failed an inspection by SGS; i use the same mechanic i've always used, i clean the taxis myself to a very high standard (including polishing in the boot and under the bonnet), get the engine and underneath of the taxi steam cleaned on every annual (didn't feel the need when we had the 6 monthly) and ensure it is practically showroom condition when it goes up for inspection. This hasn't changed in the 10 years i've been an owner driver.

Under the PCO, it really was at the whim of the inspector; ask around about the guy they called the wolf at the PCO, well known for the most ridiculous failures known to man and that was the problem with the PCO; one guy would look and say the cabs ok, get this minor thing sorted and let the cab pass, another would fail the cab and stop you working for the day or perhaps longer if you couldn't get an appointment.

I am as aware of any rules/regulations pertaining to the inspection as i need to be; my mechanic ensures that the vehicle is fit for passing and i do what i can to ensure it is presented to the same high standard. I agree that some drivers just give their old rig a quick wash, top up their oil/water levels then present it and await the list of faults before getting any remedial work done! That's wrong and should be stamped out as it just makes the list of failures look worse than what it actually is!

I agree with all of the above post.

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stressed controller!!!