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St Albans Taxi Association members say council is ignoring private hire problems in the city centre


Members of St Albans Taxi Association say the city and district council are continuing to ignore problems regarding private hire taxis pulling up at taxi ranks in the city centre.

Mudassar Yasin, General Secretary of St Albans Taxi Association, said the issue has been going on since 1999.

He added: "Private hire taxis have been pulling up to taxi ranks and asking the general public if they would like a taxi. But the reality is, when they pick up passengers from the taxi ranks their insurance becomes void, like they have no insurance in a sense. If an accident were to happen neither the driver nor customer would be insured."

Mr Yasin added no specific taxi company were doing this, but a number of drivers from different ones.

He said: "They're doing it for the money because the companies aren't providing them with enough work. It's a debated issue all the time but the council are doing nothing about it.

"There will be a death or serious injury before the council takes this seriously."

Mike Lovelady, Head of Legal, Democratic and Regulatory Services at St Albans City and District Council, said: "We are aware of issues surrounding the use of taxi ranks at peak times. The council provides taxi ranks in the district where licensed Hackney Carriages (taxis) can wait to be hired by passengers. Private hire vehicles (PHVs, also called minicabs) are licensed only to collect passengers who have pre-booked with a licensed operator. PHVs are not therefore entitled to park or ply for trade on the council's taxi ranks.

"The council is aware that the taxi ranks get very busy at certain times and is writing to the private hire operators to remind them of the terms of their licenses."

source: http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/11693344._/

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

Someone needs educating in the way that insurance works.

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Grandad,

My sentiments entirely. My insurance covers me for the carriage of passengers for hire and reward, end of; no crap about being licenced/hack/ph/wedding car, simples.

They will do when they've been in a accident and the insurance is void.

How about getting a few LO's off their a55es and out the office onto the ranks at peak times....that might help

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

The point is that the insurance is not VOID. The passengers and 3rd party property is still covered. The driver and the vehicle that he is driving will not be insured.

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Grandad,

There will be a clause stating insurance is not valid whilst the vehicle (and/or driver) is being used to commit crime.

3rd parties are still covered.

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Grandad,