Taxi Driver Online

Chipping away at our livelihood



TAXI drivers fear they could be forced off the road for having just eight tiny stone chips on their cars.

Under new measures proposed by Test Valley Borough Council hackney carriages and private hire vehicles should not have eight or more such chips of any size – damage that some drivers claimed could be sustained on one journey.

Drivers said measures could put some out of business.

The council said that the new conditions, which are currently under consultation, were based on national guidelines.

Andy Lupton, owner of Nightingale Cars of Romsey, a private hire vehicle company, said: “It’s ridiculous. Everyone is generally incredulous.

He said he supported the broad aim that vehicles should be clean and smart but claimed the the proposals went to “barmy” extremes.

Under the proposed conditions vehicles should not have: * Five or more stone chips greater than 2mm in length * Eight or more stone chips of any size * Any scratches, cracks or abrasions where the top layer of paint has been removed.

* Two or more dents more than 1cm in length * Four or more dents less than 1cm in length Mr Lupton said if a car had more than eight stone chips it may need a total respray which could cost up to £2,000.

“Financially it would just be awful,” he said. “It makes it impossible to run a business.

“Common sense needs to be applied.”

He said he intends to send an objection to the council.

Ivor Williams, a private hire driver for Romsey firm Samtax, said he could have a brand new car but on the way to Andover for taxi licence plating inspection, he could go through roadworks and arrive with a car carrying enough tiny chips and dents to fail.

“It doesn’t affect the safety or the comfort, it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever,” he said.

“They’re going to be putting more drivers off the road because they won’t be able to afford the repairs - times are hard enough as it with fuel going up.”

Mr Lupton questioned how the measures would be implemented fairly and how the council would define exactly what a dent or stone chip was.

A spokesman for the National Taxi Association said: “Whilst the cosmetic look of a vehicle is obviously important, I would suggest it is of significantly less importance than ensuring the vehicle is in good mechanical order.”

A spokeswoman for Test Valley Borough Council said: “The aim of the proposed draft guidelines is to provide a standard for the exterior and interior of the vehicle to ensure that as well as being carried safely, passengers are provided with a clean and comfortable environment.

“When a vehicle is inspected as part of the licensing process, these factors will be taken into consideration in assessing the overall suitability of the vehicle.”

TVBC said the proposals had come about after a “noticable increase in the number of older vehicles that are presented for licensing”.

The consultation ends on April 27. If the new conditions are adopted they would come into force in April 2013.

source: http://www.romseyadvertiser.co.uk/news/ ... ivelihood/

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

Obviously Test Valley has seen the car standard fall through the floor in recent years, this is simply a...we're watching you and things must improve bluff.

Why not introduce an age limit like most councils have started to do

Age doesn't stop dent's I'm afraid, I was looking at some of ours last night, 15 inch gashes in wings and doors, rattle can resprays etc, things are really on the floor now, there is no pride anymore it's dog eat dog and that will do now.

What! And go against Government best practice guidelines?

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Grandad,

OK emissions policy

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

Even in the unlikely event that it needed a complete bonnet respray it isn't going to cost anything like £2k.





Maybe if he hits a JCB.

My bonnet hasn't been touched for over 100,000 miles and I suspect it would pass this test.











Why do these things have to be so grossly exaggerated all the time?

Everything I read about the trade I assume to be exaggerated. Which is a shame because I'm sure some some people tell the truth now and again.

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

In Manchester you can remove your bonnet and get a vehicle passed, as long as you bung the required 20 quid. This bung is now so standard they have put it on the check list of faults. i.e. " was a twenty left in the ash tray" tick the box.

must be ok in your neck of the woods dusty round here you are guaranteed at least one stone chip every time you go on the A47 and as for the A14 well stone chip alley !!

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

2 words

paint

it

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Because they are being said by thick people, who have failed to get there points across before the decision is made.

Typical over reaction by people who have no idea how to get their views/issues/points adopted.

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IDFIMH

You can easily tell a tailgater by the amount of stonechips on their bonnet

Mr Lupton needs to take his head out of his arse, no way would they need a re-spray everytime they got a stone chip FFS. When they get the car why don't they have a protected film sprayed all over the motor to protect it from stone chips? It's not rocket science.