Taxi Driver Online

Bradford Councill agrees reduction in seats for cabs




Saj Akbar, of the Bradford Private Hire Liaison Service, says reducing seats will lead to drivers losing trade

All six and eight-seat cabs licensed by Bradford Council will now have to lose one seat if they still want to trade.

The move was among a range of changes to licensing conditions approved by councillors yesterday.

Regulatory and appeals committee chairman Councillor David Warburton had to use his casting vote to push ahead the changes, which are being brought in to raise the standards of vehicles carrying paying passengers on the district’s roads.

The main point of contention was over the seat reduction amendment. Saj Akbar, speaking on behalf of the Bradford Private Hire Liaison Service, said it would affect about 30 per cent of working cabs, losing them trade from big families and groups and costing drivers about £2,000 to get it done.

Officers recommended one seat from the back row should be removed to make it easier for passengers to get out in case of an accident, but Mr Akbar argued there was no evidence or any statistics proving eight or six seat vehicles were hazardous.

The Private Hire Liaison Service has been working with Council officers on the amendments since December, keeping the drivers’ and public’s interests and safety in mind.

Four out of ten cabs in Bradford are failing random vehicle checks, the committee heard, and a quarter of cabs are failing to turn up for the random checks.

Other changes that will now go ahead include a £50 penalty for drivers who fail to attend the tests and reducing the minimum age of cab drivers in Bradford from 21 to 18, although drivers must have held a licence for at least one year. That amendment went ahead despite a comment from Councillor Val Binney (Con, Thornton and Allerton) that 18-year-old drivers are “young and foolish”.

Raising the maximum age of a vehicle holding a licence from eight years to ten and scrapping a £79 deposit on licensing plates were also given the go ahead.

A suggestion by Coun Roger L'Amie (Con, Baildon) that only vehicles three to seven-years-old should be allowed to have a licence was not supported.

Driver training also came under the spotlight, with Council officers recommending drivers go no more than three years without a refresher course on their responsibilities.

After the meeting, Mr Akbar said he wanted to hear what cab drivers of big vehicles thought about the one-seat reduction.

"If there is a lot of noise and people are unhappy then we will look at getting the amendment reviewed. Other authorities let these vehicles on the roads with all their seats, so why shouldn’t Bradford? There are no statistics or evidence showing they are dangerous.

“Bradford cabs already have some of the highest standards in the whole of the country, but now drivers who are doing their best will feel they are being scrutinised to be even better without any real cause.”

Mr Akbar urged drivers who wanted to comment about the changes to contact him at 04saj@live.co.uk


http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... _for_cabs/

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

I never understand this why does removing a seat from a vehicle which has already passed government safety checks improve safety why do councillors think they know better than the sientists and technicians who test these vehicles before they go on sale ?

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

They did this in Newport Gwent back a few years ago. From a personal point of view I would like to see it challenged in the courts.

I look at it this way; Drivers have been encouraged to buy WAVs that cost a lot of money, more often than not, it is the only way to get a plate. To make a ruling on xx type of cab, with xxx amount of seats, for the drivers to comply and then change the rules is not on.

There should be a compensation claim for changes to terms and conditions. Should they throw the "We can change the rules anytime we like card" then I would say that yes you can.................but with good reason, not at the touch of a whim.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

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

brilliant sweeping generalization of millions of young people.


that said theres plenty of councilors who are foolish too

Taxi cab plans are a ‘step in wrong direction’.


The Conservative group on Bradford Council is opposed to moves to “loosen controls on taxis and private hire vehicles”.

The Telegraph & Argus reported this week how councillors agreed various changes to licensing conditions for cabs in the district.

They included reducing the minimum age of drivers from 21 to 18 and raising the maximum age of a vehicle holding a licence from eight years to ten.

Conservative group leader Councillor Glen Miller said: “It is common knowledge that young drivers have significantly more accidents than people who have been driving for a number of years.

“I do not think that earning a living as a professional driver while still climbing the curve is appropriate and I think that to approve a reduction in the minimum age that one can become a taxi driver, from 21 to 18, would be irresponsible towards the customers.”

He added: “I am also of the view that allowing older vehicles to be used as public transportation vehicles is another step in the wrong direction.”

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... ection___/

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

Personally i think that a minimum of 3 years driving experience should be mandatory before being allowed to transport members of the public experience generally makes people safer drivers

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

How can drivers take out the middle of a bench seat?

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IDFIMH

I suspect they have got the right raving hump.

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IDFIMH

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IDFIMH

Someone needs to tell these councillors that it doesn't matter a jot what they think, the law is the law.

That law says a driver need only have a full DVLA license for 12 months. That's it, plain and simple.

So if that council, and any other council refused someone who is 18 and has been driving for at least 12 months, then they are acting illegally.

That is the long and short of it.

So all that waffle from outraged councillors is completely and utterly pointless.

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IDFIMH

want to borrow my socket set