Taxi Driver Online

Hull drivers warn 'public at risk' as they struggle to cope with demand



HULL drivers say people's safety is being put at risk after new licence rules were introduced by the city council.

It now costs about £600 to become adriver, following the introduction of the compulsory Btech qualification and licence fees 18 months ago.

Members of the Hull Private Hire Association (HPHA) say they warned the authority that the requirements would lead to a decrease in drivers and a surge in demand.

Drivers told the Mail they cannot cope with demand, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night, and have even received threats from people who have been unable to order a taxi.

The group contacted the Mail after an 18-year-old girl was sexually assaulted when she was forced to walk home after being unable to find a taxi.

HPHA spokesman Magnus Murray said: "It is a fact that all private hire offices in Hull can no longer meet the demand of the public and provide or fulfil their obligation to provide bookings on demand, due to the shortage of private hire drivers.

"What happened to that poor girl who could not get a taxi home and was sexually assaulted really brings the situation to light.

"You shouldn't have to wait hours to get a taxi on a Saturday night. That is not the case in any other major city."

The group has written a formal letter of complaint about the "restrictive policy", to Hull City Council chief executive Darryl Stephenson.

Mr Murray, a driver for Seven 0 Six Cars, said: "The restrictive policy is now impacting on the functioning and future of private hire operators.

"The current policy is totally unnecessary; it is too expensive and too lengthy of a process and we believe the introduction of the Btech along with the above factors are contributing as a deterrent towards new applicants.

"The situation has recently worsened by Hull City Council's decision – without consultation – to require newly passed applicants to await a further prolonged period in order to present themselves before the licensing committee before they are granted a licence."

There are nine private hire firm offices across the city and 900 active workers.

David Smith, of Six 0 Cars, said: "If we can not cope with Halloween, how the hell are we cope with 2017?

"I had a student ring up for a taxi on Saturday night and we had to tell her there was a two-and-a-half hour wait. She was from Manchester and told us how ridiculous that was and that would never happen there."

Gary Wilkinson, a driver for 35 Taxis, said: "Drivers are simply not coming through. It is too expensive for unemployed people.

"People are saying all the time that there aren't enough jobs in Hull, but we are always wanting to take people on."

The association says concern about the issue has brought companies together.

Chris Davison, of Hull Cars, said: "Everyone knows there is intense rivalry between all the taxi companies here, but this has really united us.

"We want to do our best for the City of Culture, and the way things are looking at the moment, this won't be possible."

Hull City Council confirmed it has received the complaint from HPHA. A council spokeswoman said: "I can confirm a letter has been received. Any letters of concern received by Hull City Council will be submitted via our corporate complaints process and will be progressed as appropriate in line with our policy."

Read more: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-tax ... z3qWBAdxfc
Follow us: @hulldailymail on Twitter | HullDailyMail on Facebook

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

Drive shortage brilliant bang the fares up straight away then plenty will see its worth doing and fulfill the conditions the clever council imposed

I notice its mainly proprietors complaining fekkkkkkkkkkemm


"Public at risk" so what anyone thought of the hazards Drivers face .......................i see this becoming very beneficial to Drivers increased earnings less hour SAFER VEHICLES

KEEP THE STRINGENT CONDITIONS MAKE THE FARES REWARDING FILL YER BOOTS SUPPLY A GOOD PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

WELL DONE HULL COUNCIL

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

I suspect they are losing drivers to UBER just like those PH outfits in London.

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

And the councils actions will scuttle UBERS plans surely .............given the proprietors put the fares up ...............which of course the Drivers should insist on given their now in a position of strength

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

What a load of crap if the trade in hull was really booming there would be a queue of people lining up to pay there £600.
When I became an owner driver 10 years ago I went 6 grand in debt on a credit card to pay for a car, insurance, etc even though I was inexperienced I was able to clear the debt in 6 months by getting stuck in.
This is all about greedy operators hardly any of them believe there can such a thing as too many drivers even when the drivers they already have are struggling to make ends meet.

Your just cynical

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

So it's not really the drivers moaning, more the spiv circuit bosses.

They must be gutted that drivers are finally getting the upper hand.

_________________
IDFIMH

they could always offer to loan new drivers the money repayable over the next 60 rent payments but then the drivers probably wouldn't stay as they could run away from the debt and move to a competitor or uber

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

‘Drop The Knowledge’ – Hull minicab drivers say test is too tough


'TOTALLY UNNECESSARY': Private Hire operators in Hull are calling on the city council to relax its rules for people seeking new private hire licences. Inset, Hull Private Hire Association spokesman Cally Harrison.

UNDER-pressure minicab operators in Hull are calling on the city council to relax its rules for people seeking new private hire licences.

They claim the rules, which include literacy, numeracy and local knowledge tests, are putting people off the trade.

As a result, they say firms are struggling to recruit staff, leaving them unable to meet public demand for cabs.

Minicab drivers last month told the Mail how up to 20,000 jobs a week a week are being missed as they cannot cope with the number of requests.

Under the tests, would-drivers have to identify the location of at least 45 out of 60 streets from a choice of five different papers, each with 60 streets on them.

They also have to successfully choose three routes out of a choice of five different journeys.

Councillors have now introduced a further requirement for applicants to verbally describe the three routes after concerns were raised about the standard of English among some drivers.

The rules cover both private hire and hackney carriages.

But operators say with fewer people willing to take the tests, existing drivers are being threatened by angry customers because of a lack of cabs, particularly in the city centre at weekends.

In some cases, it's claimed drivers are also being offered "ridiculous" amounts of money by revellers in the city centre to take them home instead of picking up pre-booked fares.

Ten firms have jointly submitted a formal complaint to the council over the issue, describing the authority's rules on applying for new licences as "totally unnecessary".

In a letter, Hull Private Hire Association spokesman Cally Harrison said: "All operators in Hull have felt the restrictive effects of the policy with very few new private hire drivers joining the companies.

"The current policy is totally unnecessary. It is too expensive and the process is too lengthy."

Mrs Harrison said with fewer drivers being recruited, firms were struggling to meet demand.

She said: "The lack of private hire drivers to assist in clearing the city centre at weekends is posing a public safety issue to our drivers.

"We are experiencing harassment, threats and intimidation to our drivers in the city centre from the irate public who cannot order any taxis as all our operators are now often booked up, up to three hours in advance.

"In desperation, some people wanting to get home are offering ridiculous amounts of money as bribery.

"This will undoubtedly lead to temptation, with drivers breaching private hire licensing conditions."

The assessment process, which forms part of applying for a new private hire licence, includes a requirement for would-be drivers to pass a Btec Level 2 certificate.

The college course covers subjects such as customer service and even hygiene issues.

Councillors on the authority's licensing committee are expected to consider the private hire association's complaint at a meeting next week.


Read more: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/8216-Dro ... z3td50ry00
Follow us: @hulldailymail on Twitter | HullDailyMail on Facebook

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

The social will foot the bill for a dolelite to get a job.

Up the rates and they will flood in.

_________________
IDFIMH

Council agrees to review licensing laws for taxi drivers in Hull



HULL City Council has agreed to review its rules for people who want to become taxi drivers.

The owners of the city's 11 biggest private hire taxi firms say they are struggling to recruit new staff because of the council's strict licensing rules.

Members of the Hull Private Hire Association (HPHA) made a formal complaint to the council's licensing committee, which has have now agreed to work with the city's drivers to review the policy.

David Smith, of Six 0 Cars, said: "The problem is there are just not enough taxi drivers in the city. There is more demand than we have the capacity to deal with.

"I see this happening every day and, speaking to my colleagues, I know this is the same right across the city."

The current rules for taxi drivers include literacy, numeracy and local knowledge tests. A further seven-day BTEC qualification is required to be allowed on the road.

The association says the BTEC qualification is unnecessary, expensive, time-consuming and acts as a deterrent for new drivers.

However, councillors say the policies are in place to keep people safe.

Councillor Peter Clark said he would be wary about relaxing any of the rules in the wake of the Rotherham and Rochdale sex abuse scandals involving taxi drivers.

He said: "Our role in this is about public protection. We can't just let anybody drive a taxi.

"We all know about Rotherham and Rochdale and that was down to drivers. I don't want to pick up a paper to see something like that has happened here."

Councillor John Abbott said the extra checks put in place by the council to individually approve each driver have saved people from potentially dangerous situations.

He said: "We have a responsibility to put public safety first. We have had a few shocking examples just in the past few months of applications that have come before this committee of people who should never become taxi drivers."

Although councillors were unanimous in their view that safety procedures should not be relaxed, they agreed to a full consultation with taxi drivers to review the current policy.

A full investigation into taxi licensing policy will begin next year.


Read more: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Council- ... z3uNuXIsYd

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