Taxi Driver Online

Controversial new CCTV, safety certificate and price hike rules for taxis and minicabs to be decided


A DECISION is expected tomorrow on controversial changes to regulations for cabbies operating in the district.

The new Bradford Council rules include a hike in fees for vehicles failing safety checks and suspension when multiple dangerous defects are found, a requirement for regular vehicle safety and maintenance certificates to be provided by the proprietor and vehicles being fitted with CCTV.

These three new conditions have caused the most controversy and when consulted between 60 and 77 per cent of the trade were against them.

The changes cover all private hire and taxis in the district and also include operators being required to introduce a code of conduct and suitable background checks on employees, as well as displaying safeguarding window stickers in all vehicles.

In a report to the Council’s regulatory and appeals committee, Carol Stos, hackney carriage and private hire licensing manager, states: “The licensing service is working towards developing policies and procedures with colleagues of the Combined West Yorkshire Authorities. “The primary goal is the protection of the travelling public and the delivering of a consistent level of compliance / enforcement across the districts.”

The hike in fees includes a jump from £20 to £100 for a critical safety fail for one defect, with the addition of a suspension for two dangerous defects.

The new CCTV policy is intended to safeguard and protect the public, but also protect the driver against violence from passengers.

Installing the cameras is estimated to cost £400 a car and the cost would also be tax deductible to a driver, as well as possibly attracting a motor insurance discount

As a result the licensing service is offering a reduction in the annual vehicle renewal of £50 for just over three years, at a cost to the authority of £160,000.

The deadline for installing CCTV would be the end of July 2019.

Shabbir Master of the Hackney Carriage Owners and Drivers Association in Bradford said that while CCTV would protect drivers from attacks the cost was too much and the Council should offer a grant to cover more of the outlay.

He also added that the introduction of a fee for a small number of minor faults was particularly concerning as this could easily happen to a driver and could be as simple as a headlight bulb going out.

source: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... e_decided/

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

Is this in addition to the legally allowed maximum of 3 inspections per year ?

Installing the cameras is estimated to cost £400 a car and the cost would also be tax deductible to a driver, as well as possibly attracting a motor insurance discount


well that's £400 to get £40 knocked off the tax wow bargain

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

Indeed.

Westminster, or whatever their name is now, give a 20% discount on their premiums if the system is good enough.

The £450-500 two camera systems some use down here meet that requirement. So driver have had their CCTV paid for in a couple of years.

Some of the premiums up north could mean the cost of the CCTV is covered in year one.

_________________
IDFIMH

Blimey is your insurance only £200 a year?

_________________
IDFIMH