Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers to take part in 'slow drive' in Newcastle City Centre in protest of the scrapping of local knowledge test


Cabbies from across the North East will take part in the drive after Newcastle City Council dropped the locality test earlier this year

Taxi drivers will take part in a ‘slow drive’ around a busy city centre in protest to council bosses scrapping a locality test.

Newcastle Council got rid of the stringent test, which demand cabbies in the city have in depth knowledge of the area they cover, earlier this year.

At the time, employees at some of the region’s biggest taxi firms signed a petition calling for the locality test to be brought back.

They claimed that customers would receive a poor service because of the decision to get rid of the test, while others believed the ability to find places in a driver’s chosen working area is a reasonable expectation.

But now, the cabbies are taking to the streets of Newcastle city centre to take part in a ‘slow drive’ in protest of the council dropping the test for private hire drivers.

They believe the decision has dramatically affected their trade and has unreasonably increased the number of private hire taxis in Newcastle.

Mark Lillie is a licence Hackney carriage and private hire driver with North Tyneside Council, who was previously licensed under Newcastle City Council.

Representing the ‘ncl-slowdrive-group’, he said: “In four months, we have gone from 1,200 Newcastle private hire cars, slowly built up over 20 years, to now 1,600 and counting.

“It’s an increase of at least 400 ‘postcode drivers’.

“Members of our group have seen cars drive down one way streets the wrong way, one car went around one of Newcastle’s busiest city centre roundabouts the wrong way, and some are turning left and right when signs forbid them to do so.

“It’s all down to them not really having a clue where they were or going.”

“We see no extra enforcement teams out on the road and no extra staff employed, yet there are 25% extra private hire cars on the road.

“We think this is also a safety issue.

“There is a constant queue out the door at Newcastle licencing office. When will they end when every one in Newcastle holds a taxi badge?

“We want Newcastle city council to either put and upper cap on the total number of private hire cars - 1,800 looks enough for demand in the trade - and bring back a locality test like North Tyneside, Gateshead and Northumberland.

“Gateshead and North Tyneside, for instance, still have a locality test so, let’s say a company from there struggles to recruit drivers due to drivers not passing test, they now bring the new ‘post code’ driver into their fleet.”

The ‘slow drive’ will take place from 3pm on Monday, and will start at Claremont Road, in the city centre.

It is thought the drive, which could become a weekly event, will take between 60 and 90 minutes.

Mr Lillie added: “The impact is hitting us all due to the new cross border hire rules that came in to play in October. So, for instance, a North Tyneside office only used to have North Tyneside cars and a few Hackneys.

“But now, when they want to increase numbers of there fleets, they can now take on extra Newcastle cars working out of a Newcastle office and dish out work to them so the knock-on effect is less jobs per car and longer hours have to be done at work to make a living.”

Bosses at the city council say the decision to make the changes relates to government legislation, and the increased use of satellite navigation systems and app based systems.

A council spokesman said: “We have received more applications for private hire drivers licences since the locality tests were replaced with an interview-type test. However, this is for a number of reasons including more drivers from outside of the area wishing to compete for fares in the busy city centre.

“Despite the increase, we continue to vet all applications very carefully as the safety of the travelling public is our highest priority.”

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... w-10411278

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

A council spokesman said: “We have received more applications for private hire drivers licences since the locality tests were replaced with an interview-type test. However, this is for a number of reasons including more drivers from outside of the area wishing to compete for fares in the busy city centre.

really nothing to do with making it easier to encourage more applications and grab more cash ?

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

Newcastle braced for second taxi go-slow protest by frustrated drivers



Cabbies are planning a second convoy through Newcastle city centre on Friday afternoon, following an initial protest on Monday

Taxi drivers will stage a second ‘go slow’ protest on Friday.

Cabbies brought Newcastle city centre to a standstill on Monday afternoon when turned out to show their anger at Newcastle City Council’s decision to scrap the ‘knowledge’ test for new drivers.

The authority got rid of the stringent test, which demands cabbies in the city have in-depth knowledge of the area they cover, earlier this year, arguing that the increased use of apps and sat navs and changes in Government legislation made the traditional exam obsolete.

However, cabbies say the city has now been flooded with inexperienced drivers, and this is not only threatening their livelihood, but putting passengers’ safety at risk.

Scores of drivers took part in Monday’s protest convoy, which snaked through the city centre at 3pm, causing mass traffic jams.

And the cabbies will do it all over again at 1pm on Friday.

Organiser Mark Lillie, a licenced Hackney carriage and private hire driver with North Tyneside Council, who was previously licensed under Newcastle City Council, said: “There will be a two-pronged approach. North of town in one side and south in the other.

“We have spoken to Gateshead and they’re making there locality tests harder so Newcastle really need to rethink their stance. There’s people out the door there today applications are ridiculous. This can’t be right surely.”

We joined one driver on the protest on Monday.

And as we travelled in convoy, driver Robert Gibson Brennen, known as Gibson to his pals, told us how he believed public safety was being put at risk by the saturated taxi market.

He said: “I’ve been stopped by new taxi drivers who ask me where the station is. It’s certainly quieter now, and the downside of that is you have to work longer hours.

“You talk to any of the drivers and they are working 60 or 70 hour weeks, which isn’t conducive to a safe working environment.”

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: “We have received more applications for private hire drivers licences since the locality tests were replaced with an interview-type test.

“However, this is for a number of reasons including more drivers from outside of the area wishing to compete for fares in the busy city centre.

“Despite the increase, we continue to vet all applications very carefully as the safety of the travelling public is our highest priority.”

However, the drivers say they will hold further protests if the council refuse to negotiate.

Mark added: “There is a constant queue out the door at Newcastle licencing office. When will they end – when everyone in Newcastle holds a taxi badge?

“We want Newcastle City Council to either put an upper cap on the total number of private hire cars or bring back a locality test like North Tyneside, Gateshead and Northumberland.

“In four months, we have gone from 1,200 Newcastle private hire cars, slowly built up over 20 years, to now 1,600 and counting. It’s an increase of at least 400 ‘postcode drivers’.

“Members of our group have seen cars drive down one way streets the wrong way, one car went around one of Newcastle’s busiest city centre roundabouts the wrong way, and some are turning left and right when signs forbid them to do so.

“It’s all down to them not really having a clue where they were or going.”

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... o-10436227

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

Whenever we have wanted to make a protest i.e a go slow, the police have put a cap on it (20 cars/cabs), and escorted the drivers through the City. They in effect will not allow the City to be brought to a standstill.Do they have the legal right to do this, as it seems that other forces do not employ the same tactics.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

They probably do but normally can't be bothered unless there are operational reasons for preventing the jams

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

Frustrated cabbies to hold third go-slow protest through Newcastle city centre


Taxi drivers to drive through city centre at rush hour in protest over scrapping of 'knowledge' test

Taxi drivers are gearing-up to stage a third go-slow protest through Newcastle city centre, at rush hour today.

Cabbies twice brought Newcastle city centre to a standstill earlier this month when scores of drivers turned out to show their anger at Newcastle City Council’s decision to scrap the ‘knowledge’ test for new drivers.

The authority got rid of the stringent test, which demands cabbies in the city have in-depth knowledge of the area they cover, earlier this year, arguing that the increased use of apps and sat navs and changes in Government legislation made the traditional exam obsolete.

However, cabbies say the city has now been flooded with inexperienced drivers, and this is not only threatening their livelihood but putting passengers’ safety at risk.

And they will today show their anger once again by driving slowly through the city in convoy.

The protest will begin at 4.30pm on Jesmond Road West, near the civic centre.

Organiser Mark Lillie, a licenced Hackney carriage and private hire driver with North Tyneside Council, who was previously licensed under Newcastle City Council , said: “There is a constant queue out the door at Newcastle licencing office. When will they end – when everyone in Newcastle holds a taxi badge?

“We want Newcastle City Council to either put an upper cap on the total number of private hire cars or bring back a locality test like North Tyneside, Gateshead and Northumberland.

“In four months, we have gone from 1,200 Newcastle private hire cars, slowly built up over 20 years, to now 1,600 and counting. It’s an increase of at least 400 ‘postcode drivers’.

“Members of our group have seen cars drive down one way streets the wrong way, one car went around one of Newcastle’s busiest city centre roundabouts the wrong way, and some are turning left and right when signs forbid them to do so.

“It’s all down to them not really having a clue where they were or going.”

We joined one driver on the first protest on Monday November 9.

And as we travelled in convoy, driver Robert Gibson Brennen, known as Gibson to his pals, told us how he believed public safety was being put at risk by the saturated taxi market.

He said: “I’ve been stopped by new taxi drivers who ask me where the station is. It’s certainly quieter now, and the downside of that is you have to work longer hours.

“You talk to any of the drivers and they are working 60 or 70 hour weeks, which isn’t conducive to a safe working environment.”

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: “We have received more applications for private hire drivers licences since the locality tests were replaced with an interview-type test.

“However, this is for a number of reasons including more drivers from outside of the area wishing to compete for fares in the busy city centre.

“Despite the increase, we continue to vet all applications very carefully as the safety of the travelling public is our highest priority.”

However, the drivers say they will hold further protests if the council refuses to negotiate.

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... o-10513103

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

Parts of Newcastle brought to a standstill as taxi drivers stage third go-slow protest




The cabbies are showing their frustration at Newcastle City Council's decision to scrap the 'local knowledge' test for new drivers.

Frustrated taxi drivers staged a third go-slow protest through Newcastle city centre, this time during rush hour.

Cabbies have already twice brought the city centre to a standstill when scores of drivers turned out to show their anger at Newcastle City Council’s decision to scrap the ‘knowledge’ test for new drivers.

The authority got rid of the stringent test, which demands cabbies in the city have in-depth knowledge of the area they cover, earlier this year, arguing that the increased use of apps and sat navs and changes in Government legislation made the traditional exam obsolete.

However, cabbies say the city has now been flooded with inexperienced drivers, and this is not only threatening their livelihood but putting passengers’ safety at risk.

And, during rush our on Friday evening, they vented their frustration once again by driving slowly through the city in convoy.

The route started at Jesmond Road West, went along St Mary’s Place towards the city, down Percy Street and passed the Haymarket, before turning driving back along the route.

In 90 minutes, the cabbies did two or three loops of the route, causing traffic to gridlock and buses to be diverted.

Cabbie Dennis Weedy, who has been in the industry for 40 years, said the protest was not about causing disruption, it was about getting their voices heard and, ultimately, about passenger safety.

He said: “Since the council scrapped the locality test, we have gone from 1,200 Newcastle private hire cars, slowly built up over 20 years, to 1,600 and there’s 600 still pending.

“These lads don’t want to be rich, they just want to be able to earn a living and, since the massive increase in licences, many have seen their income drop by 30%.

“It’s also about passenger safety. Since the locality test has been scrapped, most a relying on sat nav and it’s not safe. I’ve been at the council offices and seen men applying for licences who can’t even speak English!

“It’s ridiculous that Newcastle Council have done this. Many councils in the country, like Leeds, have actually made their locality tests more stringent, rather than scrapping them!”

Cabbie Mark Turnbull, who has been a taxi driver for eight years, said it’s tougher now than he has ever known it.

He said: “Some taxi drivers are having to work 80 or 90 hour weeks to try and get the same income they had.

“In my career as a taxi driver, it’s the worst now than it’s ever been.

“We’re protesting today to save our jobs and also to protect our passengers - some of the new licence holders go the wrong way down one-way streets and down streets with no entry signs, because they’re relying on sat nav and haven’t had to pass a locality test.

“It’s ridiculous.”

Organiser Mark Lillie, a licenced Hackney carriage and private hire driver with North Tyneside Council, who was previously licensed under Newcastle City Council , said the cabbies had held a meeting with the council 10-days-ago.

He said: “We’re going ahead with the protest today as the council have had 10 days to get back to us after the meeting and they haven’t. They haven’t responded to phone calls or emails, so that’s why today is happening.

“We’ve found that most people support us, particularly the general public, who we’re also doing this for.”

Mr Lillie also warned there may be more protests to come if the council don’t negotiate.

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: “We have received more applications for private hire drivers licences since the locality tests were replaced with an interview-type test.

“However, this is for a number of reasons including more drivers from outside of the area wishing to compete for fares in the busy city centre.

“Despite the increase, we continue to vet all applications very carefully as the safety of the travelling public is our highest priority.”

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... i-10516699

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

what no mayor threatening sanctions against them !

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

Every time I have had a pick up at the station there, it has taken 45 mins plus to get from the bypass to the station and the same to get out, this is on a normal day

I avoid Pick-ups from Newcastle central station just as I avoid Edinburgh Waverly station Pick ups, these places have become so Car unfriendly that I just can't be arsed with the hassle these days...Dropping off isn't so bad though.

I'm the same. Will not pick up there full-stop.

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IDFIMH

yeah right I'm sure theres loads of people from sussex wanting to get picked up from there

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