Taxi Driver Online

FEARS for Teignbridge taxis' safety credentials were voiced yesterday.
Taxi drivers gathered at the district council offices for a regulatory and appeals committee meeting, angry about the number of new Hackney carriage permits being issued.
Some of the drivers, backed by Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross, called for a cap on new permits.
John Partridge, of the Teignbridge Taxi and Private Hire Association, said that drivers' earnings had been slashed because of the introduction of deregulation last year.
He felt that lifting restrictions on the number of licences for taxis that can be hailed on the streets put pressure on businesses that were already struggling.
Mr Partridge said that garages had told him some taxi drivers were prepared to delay replacing parts of their vehicles, such as tyres, because they could not afford them.
Mr Partridge, who as proprietor of Dawlish Taxis had reduced his staffing numbers by five drivers, stressed that none of his cars' safety was allowed to suffer.
But he added: "Drivers won't be able to make a living and keep their cars updated if they have to drop their fares so low to compete."
Mr Partridge's announcement worried Teignbridge councillors, with Mary Colclough saying it was an issue that her fellow members should take very seriously.
Cllr Sylvia Russell added: "It's alerted us to the possibility that there may be some vehicles out there that aren't roadworthy."
But Cllr Mike Walters, who chaired the meeting, was sceptical.
He said: "I think the points Mr Partridge has made say more about the finances than the safety side of the business."
Mr Younger-Ross added: "I'm fairly certain that no taxi driver would let his vehicle get to a dangerous state. However, in terms of vehicles' finish and quality, they may suffer."
There are 58 taxi rank spaces in Teignbridge and 186 Hackney plates — a ratio of one rank per 3.2 carriages.
Some taxi firms feared that by 'flooding' Teignbridge with more taxis, the council would be putting drivers on 'benefit credit'.
Taxi driver Paul Hayden told the committee: "About £1million was wiped off our industry with deregulation in Teignbridge.
"Could you get it right this time? Because it wasn't the right decision last time."
The committee told taxi drivers that a decision on whether to cap the number of permits will be made within five days.

http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHand ... =22016&p=0

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http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHand ... =22015&p=0

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

A mixed bag of response, but one has to comment on the mush who just having got his plate now wants the door bolted.

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IDFIMH