Taxi Driver Online

This advert for taxi insurance is in extremely poor taste

As far as magazine adverts go, this one is particularly ill-judged.



This advert from Westminster Insurance, which appears in the latest issue of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association Magazine, urges drivers to have a camera fitted in their taxi in order to receive a 10 percent discount on their insurance.

While that seems likes a pretty inoffensive message, the advert is centred around the image of a cyclist lying on the ground while being berated by a judge, alongside the caption ‘A fitted camera in your taxi is like having a witness and a barrister permanently with you’.

In 2013 alone, 109 cyclists were killed on London’s roads, so we can’t help but feel that this image might just be a little bit in bad taste.

Sam Jones, campaigns coordinator for CTC, a national cycling charity, said: ‘While the poster appears biased and discriminatory on multiple levels, the reality is that a camera can convict either party.

‘It is sad that cyclists and drivers feel the need to resort to cameras for want of better road policing, which CTC strongly supports through our Road Justice Campaign’.

It was also recently reported that the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association are considering mounting a legal challenge to the proposed ‘Cycle Superhighway’ – plans outlined by mayor Boris Johnson for London’s longest inner city bike lane.

Speaking to ITV, general secretary Steve McNamara said: ‘It’s going to be a nightmare for traffic and a nightmare for London. It’s not about cycling, this is about a legacy for the mayor.

This is the last hurrah of a failed mayor whose only transport legacy to date is a cable car at Greenwich that nobody uses’.

Metro.co.uk have approached The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association for comment.

source: http://metro.co.uk/2015/01/30/this-adve ... e-5042930/

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

What idiot wrote the article. The picture is of a cyclist being "berated " by a barrister and not a Judge. and the other chap is the witness.

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Grandad,

Didn't Sam Jones play Flash Gordon in the film?

FFS Sam's outraged!

How is it discriminatory? FFS

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

Because it infers the "C" word...Cyclist! and of course they are blameless Ad Infinitum.

Its funny, Westminster do my home insurance, and my bikes.

The cycle 'activists' have been venting their spleen all week since the LTDA announced a legal challenge to the layout of this new Boris idea.

I'd say very few road users have any objections to the segregated lane, but when they take out the entire eastbound lane, for the entire length of a major arterial route into and out of central London, and then ban most of the important turns off of that route then its a step too far.

Taxis aside, The vast majority of traffic on that route is commercial, they're not there for fun. Builders, plumbers, Tesco lorry's, cranes, emergency service vehicles, crossrail works traffic, every coach that comes in from Essex carrying commuters, even vans carrying bikes and bits!

The route could easily remain as it was AND have segregated lanes by taking away central reservations and some of the 40ft wide footpaths!

But no, Boris and the loonies at TFL find it easier to barrier of the entire eastbound lane and block several turns.

The whole scheme relies on people taking a bike to work. Marvellous if you can afford to live within 5 miles of the city. Millions cant and have to commute. Commercial traffic has no choice.

The CTC used to be a nice organisation to belong to, organising tours, cycle meets, camping etc through local D.A's.

Then the bearded loons started taking over, the 'activist' types.

They're practically it nowadays, I left ages ago.

Not if you're in the wrong, then you 'lose' the footage.