Dundee taxi drivers up front about the need to tackle ‘runners’Bold new plans could see taxi passengers in Dundee paying for their journey before a wheel is turned.
In what is thought to be a first in Scotland, taxi drivers in the city will discuss the possibility of introducing up-front fees at a meeting early next year.
Operators claim that their hand has been forced following an increase in the number of so-called ”runners” — customers who flee without paying once arriving at their destination.
In a bid to protect their income, asking customers to pay at least a deposit upon entering a Dundee taxi now appears to be a real possibility.
Chris Elder, Unite union taxi branch secretary, told The Courier: ”It’s something that we’re looking at as there are so many drivers getting runners at the end of their journeys at the moment.
”It’s not everyone — there are a lot of good people in Dundee — but there are a certain few who don’t want to pay.
”A lot of the drivers have noticed that it has escalated a little recently. Only a few people have brought this to a head but this has been going on for years.”
Mr Elder insists taxi drivers are perfectly entitled to demand fares in advance. However, a discussion to be held at a liaison meeting in the near future would seek to make the new system a standard operating procedure.
Mr Elder believes customers would be understanding and says similar methods are already employed by operators south of the border.
”When you get on a bus you have to pay or you don’t get on,” he continued. ”When we do out of town work we will get a fee up front which is agreed upon beforehand so I can’t see this being a problem.
”We’ve already had some feedback from customers and that has been positive. I’ve read about it happening in England where customers even pay a deposit.”
Mr Elder also believes the police would support such a change, since it might cut the amount of time they have to spend investigating runners.
Councillor Rod Wallace, licensing convener, appeared to welcome the proposals when he spoke to The Courier.
He sees no reason why passengers would object to paying up front.
”There has been a request from members of the taxi liaison group to discuss this,” Mr Wallace confirmed.
”I fully appreciate the circumstances that some drivers can get into. If a large group get into a taxi and have maybe had a bit to drink then there is not always a guarantee that they will cough up at the end of the journey, leaving the driver in the lurch.
”I think that this system could work and I’m sure that taxi drivers would make their customers fully aware beforehand.”
Mr Wallace also confirmed that the matter is likely to come before the licensing committee in the new year should taxi operators choose to take the matter forward.
source:
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/
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