Taxi Driver Online

So say the Lib Dems.


5,700 SHORTFALL IN LICENSED CABBIES IN LONDON


New figures revealed today by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats show that London is facing a shortage of 5,700 licensed cabbies leading to concerns that passengers may turn to illegal minicabs to get home at night.

The figures, taken from Transport for London Board papers, show that there was a 1,200 shortfall in the number of licensed taxi drivers Transport for London believed were needed for this year. There was also a 4,500 shortfall in the number of private hire drivers licensed leading to an overall shortage of taxi drivers in the capital of 5,700.

TfL points to 'significant problems with the quality of application and Criminal Records Bureau forms completed by the applicants and the medical forms completed by GPs', as the reason for the lack of the extra licensed cabbies.

London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, Graham Tope, said:- "While the number of cabbies is increasing, it appears that the increase is falling well short of the number needed to meet demand.

"I am seriously concerned that the shortage of licensed cabbies could lead to more people using unlicensed minicabs because they are the cheapest and easiest form of transport to get home on a late night.

"It is time the Mayor raised their game in helping to get more cabbies registered and licensed before all the good work by Transport for London with their 'Safer Travel at Night' scheme is undone."

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Happy to be legit.

I wonder how they quantified that

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Two words spring to mind, no not the obvious, but 'quickie knowledge'.

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IDFIMH

One smells bullshit.

'So say the Lib Dems' well that kind of ends any sort of 'serious' label that the above would have had attached to it.

I e-mailed a lengthy letter to our new Hornsey MP, Lynne Featherstone last week asking her about what research she had undertaken before shouting her mouth off on local television about the need for more Taxi's to help clog the streets of London.

I still await a reply.

As for the quicky knowledge? I can't think of a subject more likely to get everyone singing from the same hymnsheet.

Pity they did'nt put as much time and effort into the conditions review.

Unless you are going from Old Street to Enfield and are willing to pay Mr Illegal Immigrant £50, then unusaly enough, they are not the cheapest.

Ever wondered why people say voting Lib-Dem is a wasted vote?

standards dropping for cabbie now?
i think this is the start of the 6 months knowledge crusade.

I think there has always been a sort of quickie knowledge in times of shortage. Its just that it has been an un-official one.

The testers pass them out a bit quicker than normal, and if there is a glut of drivers, they pass out new ones a bit slower.

Not very professional IMHO.

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IDFIMH

That TV programme that was on a few years ago about the KOL certainly hinted that examiners could effectively block the progression of anyone who they didn't like.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

i suppose thats why yorkie works up north.