Taxi Driver Online

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/ae_news_story.php?id=50577

Cab Hire Is Just the Ticket


The number is up for bogus cab drivers, thanks to this new invention. It's called the TaxiBox, and the first one to be installed is already proving popular - although not everyone is happy.

Anyone wanting to hire a vehicle inserts a £1 coin in the slot, and the roadside machine prints off a numbered ticket. That means a car has been booked, with the cash being deducted from the final fare. It is hoped the system will cut down on the number of passengers risking their safety and personal security with unlicensed operators.

It's the brainchild of Manchester firm Autocab, and has recently been installed in Leeds by minicab outfit Amber Cars. It's situated

outside the office, and owner Andy Pennock told us: "Most of our customers think it's great. It's proving very successful, and I've ordered some more. It would work brilliantly in the city centre, where there is always a scramble for cabs when the pubs and clubs close."

The company, which has 170 cars and employs more than 300 drivers, wants to put up additional boxes around the city, depending on planning permission.

But Ian Gale, a regional director of the National Taxi Association, isn't impressed. He said: "I will be raising this at our national conference later this month, because this device effectively creates a rank for private hire cars."

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Bit like a PH freephone. cant see how he thinks its like ranking up. if system makes a booking and the car that is allocated turns up how is that ranking?

Aren't freephones only in private places with the explicit permission of management? These machines would supposedly be in a public street. If the council put these machines in the public street for this P/H hire company would it not mean they would have to accomodate evey other P/H firm in Leeds who requested the same equality.

Very interesting concept I must admit.

Best wishes

JD

these were a big thing a few years ago.

A guy brought technology over from Australia and sold it to Autocab customers in Basildon and Southampton.

It didn't work and the guy disappeared with the money.

Seems Autocab have regigged the idea and sold it again.

Hacks will attack it in some areas because it doesn't take the destination with booking. Though I believe a number code was being contemplated to overcome it.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Dodgy lot that NTA mob.

But as Steveo says, a box in the road doesn't create a rank. Of course if a hat full of PH sit by it, then that's a different matter.

But these boxes aren't for the sole use of PH firms, taxi firms can have them if they wish.

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IDFIMH

I think councils would have to operate on a first come first served basis.

But from hearing and reading about these things for years, methinks we will all be long dead before they flood the market.

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IDFIMH

Hi
This is NOT a new inovation, yet again either the press have gotten the information wrong, the company passed on the wrong information or the company was told by their system supplier that it was a new thing and no one else every used it.

Tom Thumb is right about a data system supplier in the UK advertising this technology a while back and that such equipment is already is use in other parts of the world.

The same 2 guys who won the lottery then bought a Taxi firm

Then ripped out Autocab and put Auriga in.........

I wonder what system they will put in next?

Cordic?? What happend when they had Autocab installed? I was talking to Gary Brand last year at Donnington, he was well [edited by admin] about Autocab.

tube of super glue will put an end to silly idea

It has been done before.

Thicko's like you wouldn't know which end to push.

Stick to ripping off customers.

oi ! sussex

what do you mean mob? hehe

regards

Captain cab

Does anyone know if this Taxibox is being used anywhere? When it was first announced it was stated it was being trialed in leeds.

Regards

JD

We were using these taxibox things about 4 years ago in Chester.They were out of order a lot more than they were working and from a drivers point of view they were a waste of time.