Taxi Driver Online

On the agenda.
Plates used for vehicles
Zones
Ranks
Terms and conditions of licence including, Age restrictions on vehicles, training and enforcement
Use of trailers
fare review, using London model????????????


The plates in use at the moment are to big and some have trouble fitting them to the more modern type bumpers as the are not flexible enough, an ideas have been put forward to reduce the size of the plates and either make them sticky back or fit them to the roof signs.

The Scottish Borders covers a wide area and at the moment we have 4 zones, it was suggested that the zones are abolished or some amalgamated.

There are only 3 taxi ranks in the whole of the borders 2 in Galashiels and 1 in Peebles, ranks are required in the other 3 large towns of Kelso, Jedburgh, and Hawick, this would help those drivers who at the moment have to sit on double yellows 24/7 with the prospect of being moved on by the traffic wardens.
As the 1982 act says a person can use any cab from a rank, but in most places they have to use the first one, we will be asking the council to introduce a by-law insisting on it, this would help reduce the trouble at club closing times and also due to the high numbers of cabs in the zones give every driver a chance of earning a living

Most drivers stick to the terms and conditions of licence but there are 1 or 2 that chance there arm.
The age limit needs to be addressed, at the moment there is a 7 year age limit on saloons but if the car is 7 years 11 months you can still obtain a 3 year licence, we will be asking for this to be 7 years from date of first registration and off,
Due to the excessive numbers of taxis in some zones, we will be asking that there be no cars over 3 years at first licence or when substituting the vehicle, due to the above 7 year 11 month rule, and would help to reduce the numbers without restricting them as we are unrestricted.

Trailer, there are quit a few 6 seat cabs and if the get an airport run they require more luggage space, there is no objections to these being used as long as the hitch and wiring conform with the law

For some reason or other our council have come up with a fare review using various practices, I will ask JD to post the last 2 pages as it would be easier to understand, thats the methodology page front and back JD

I went to this meeting in Duns on the 12th February (yesterday)...there was 7 council Officials attending and out my Zones 17 or so Taxi and PH operators I was the only one in attendance...hows that for apathy..more odd because our Zones biggest operator is based in Duns and didnt attend.

I got the feeling though that these meetings are being held to meet the scottish executives demand that these consultations take place...Im not sure much will ever come of it but at least the SBC can say they did as asked by the Scottish executive.

they seemed content to keep the current vehicle ages as they are..possibly with the addition of a twice yearly check on vecles over 5 years old....a bit crazy I thought as Id have thought Milage was of more importance to Vehicle Condition than age..

as for trailers...they seemed to think it fine for MPVS and not for saloons..provided the Trailer passsed a council check and showed a SBC plate on the rear of it.

Ranks Didnt apply as theirs no where in zone one that needs a rank that aint already got one....

As for Zones...they seem quite happy with the Zones as they are and tend to agree that the only people to benefit from a single zone would be the larger fleet owners who already have cars scattered across the region but plated only in one zone...these being presently used mostly for SBC contract work and tend to have little else to do during the day...theyed be the ones to gain most from a single zone so they can work anywhere...but the council seems to realise that.

be Interesting to see the results from your consultation Skippy.

I think the main reason for the lack of show was down to the snow, some of the schools closed early.

Thanks for the info though.
I wonder why they are thinking along the lines of 2 tests for vehicles over 5 years, when the fair way would be to bring the max age to 7 and off
or as I said no car over 3 years at first, or substitution of licence.
This would stop the ones who buy a car in its 7th year for next to nothing and being able to run it for 3 years

As for keeping the zones I am not to sure about that, before we where licenced every town kept to itself, unless they had a call to pick up, but I do agree that some of the bigger companies would rip the @rse out of it in today's climate.

I agree the trailer one is daft I will bring that up, I tow a caravan with mine

The roads were fine...it was just pure apathy that stopped some from attending..

I have to disagree here.

Age limits are arbitrary and no guide to the condition of a vehicle. Around here a double shifted vehicle can do 500k miles in under 6 years. Others are single driven and do less than 120k in that time.

Our saloons have to be less than 5 years when first licensed but can continue in use for as long as they pass the hackney inspections (2 per year)
WAVs can be up to 10 years old at first licence.
Your council should lay down proper standards of inspection, so the real sheds fail and have to be replaced.

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Well thats was a very well attended meeting, out of a possible 130 the famous 5 turned up

Licence plates are to be made smaller, and vehicle will only have one on the rear with a double sided small plate inside the vehicle stuck to the windscreen.
Double plating will no longer be allowed

trailers will be allowed by all who have that entitlement on the DVLA licence, those who do not must take the DVLA trailer test, the trailer must be approved by the council and tested and plated.

Age limits on vehicles now 7 years 11 months maximum

Zones are to stay

Fare rise using the London model, PH and Taxi monthly courtesy of MR Roland, info from the retail price index and RAC and the inflation rates put us in for a 5.6% rise this year if its required
£2.00 start and £1.50 a mile from 10PM £3.00 start £1.50 a mile.

Ranks will be sorted once a new road development is finished

hmmm..i suggested that one yesterday...even suggested a wee slot in it to hold the drivers photo Taxi / Ph licence...nice to know they listen...or maybe im dreaming and they thought of it first...

So much for the best practise guidance

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Another victory for poor standards and lazy LOs

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I actually agree with everything youve pointed out gusmac.



CC

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

That's ok. we can agree sometimes you know

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Im quite happy with what the SBC intends....times are hard so no point in making things harder still. we tend to find that Most operators down here have pretty high standards of Vehicle maintainance and husbandry..the Council realise we are gods chosen ones and tend to allow for this in their Minamalist use of Regulations...

Maximum age limits do not encourage good standards. Why bother spending time and money, beyond what is neccesary to keep your motor going, if it is going to fall foul of some arbritary age limit?

The only thing this will encourage is double shifting and poor maintenence.

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NONSENSE...whos going to abuse their car for five years rather than 10 years...doent matter if you intend changing cars every 2 years from new there is no savings to be made from Scrimping on decent servicing as the resulting lack of economy and reliabilty will cost you just as much if not more.....having said that if you aint the vehicles owner and working for peanuts your probably going to hash the guts out of any vehicle regardless of its age , milage or anything else..

There's a few around here that abuse their cars and we have an age limit.

Age policies in my view are a sign of inherent local authority failure in standards.

If the standards of test are high enough, the age limit is not needed.

CC

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