Taxi Driver Online

Furious customers hit out at taxi drivers for raising fares in hazardous weather

A TAXI boss has defended his decision to ramp up fares in heavy snow and freezing temperatures, claiming his drivers are "risking their lives" on the roads. Mazi Maroof of Tees Valley Cabs said the extra cash acts as an incentive for drivers to come out to work. But one customer, whose usual £12 taxi fare to work went up to £13, branded the idea "ridiculous".

The woman, who asked not to be named, told Gazette Live: "Sometimes my partner gets a taxi to work when his lift doesn't turn up. "It is always £12, but when I ordered one this morning she said it would be a pound extra today because of the weather."I don't think it's right at all. What if somebody only had that £12 to get to work and they couldn't get to work because they didn't have that extra pound? "I think it's terrible. “The bus fares don't go up just because it snows."

But the taxi firm, based in Stockton, Teesside, said journeys are taking up to five times longer than usual. Mr Maroof said: "The conditions are horrendous and drivers don't want to come out. "We calculate journeys by distance and time. A five-minute journey is taking 20 minutes. "Drivers need to make money to pay rent. "They are taking five times the time for the same journey."

He continued: "We do tell people beforehand and we ask them if they would still like to book. "The drivers are risking their lives so initially they don't want to go out." Mr Maroof said the increased fares were in place "only when the weather was extreme" and will return to normal when the roads improve.

Another frustrated customer took to social media to complain about the fare hike. Jacqueline Pratt said: "My husband and I had been at the Diamond restaurant and were trying to get a taxi home. All the companies were quite busy but we finally managed to get one and the meter was already double what it usually is. "The driver said it was double time because of the adverse conditions but my husband was a taxi driver years ago and never heard of that.”

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IDFIMH

I agree it's ridiculous, in my view drivers risking their lives and vehicles should be earning double.

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IDFIMH

I think it should be treble, it’s a shame Hackney’s can’t charge it, unless it’s in the table of fares.

Yeah, I’d risk my life for an extra pound....

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Former taxi driver

At least Uber sometimes get it right.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... g-14357399

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IDFIMH

sarcasm becomes you

I have worked every day this week and it has been tricky but with care NOT a big risk in fact today all but one of my cars was out but as hackneys we are charging normal fare

and that has meant staff at Morrisons, Waitrose, Sainsburys and several nursing homes did get to work and home again after all we ARE public transport and as such are relied upon to overcome adversity and get people to and from work

and we got more snow than you Jimbo well Wednesday at least

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

But not always.

£16 a mile?

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... se-1291607

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IDFIMH

Well done you!

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Former taxi driver