Taxi Driver Online

Reading Borough Council has not issued any fixed penalty notices since warning taxi drivers in late June

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... late-june/

No fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for engine idling have been issued by Reading Borough Council (RBC) since a warning period for taxi drivers ended almost four months ago.

The issue was raised at full council on October 16, when Green councillor Brenda McGonigle asked if RBC will fulfil its promise to effectively campaign against engine idling in Reading.

Significant changes in the heart occur even at relatively low levels of air pollution exposure, according to recent research from scientists at Queen Mary University.

Cllr McGonigle said: “While childhood asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the over 50s are on the increase taxis in residential streets are still idling sometimes for up to 30 minutes.

“When spoken to, the majority of drivers have no idea why they should switch off. The government should be acting but we won’t hold our breath waiting for that to happen.

“Two years later it appears this council has done little or nothing to effectively campaign against engine idling.”

Councillor Page, lead member for transport and strategic environment, said fines for engine idling are a last resort but will be served if culprits do not heed warnings.

He added: “We have not got the resources to throw at it on a daily basis.

"It is now beyond the warning period. If Hackney carriages do not recognise the warnings, we will not hesitate to serve FPNs, but it is a last resort.”

Councillors agreed to campaign to reduce engine idling as part of the Reading’s Air Quality Action Plan, at the strategic environment, planning and transport committee on 23 November 2016.

Road Traffic Regulations of 2002 give discretionary powers to officers to issue FPNs of £20 – £40 if unpaid – to drivers who refuse to switch off their engines, or to repeat offenders.

Reading licensing officers have been speaking to drivers over the last 18 months, bringing the problem to their attention and asking drivers to switch their engine off.

Cllr Page sent a letter to hackney carriage taxi drivers on June 27, 2018, warning that FPNs would be served to drivers found idling without a reasonable excuse. No FPN has yet been issued.

The campaign to encourage drivers to switch off their engines is part of the Council’s ongoing Air Quality Action Plan.

RBC has teams of volunteers, Air Quality Champions, who invite drivers to become part of the campaign to improve local air quality by switching off their engines.

RBC say this approach has a 75% success rate.

Why pick on taxi drivers?

Biggest culprits, by far, are buses and vans.

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IDFIMH

easy target

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

Reading Borough Council's' Tony Page issues engine idling warning for taxis

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... for-taxis/

Taxi drivers will be issued with penalty tickets if caught engine idling at taxi ranks ‘where relevant signage is in place’.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) warned union representatives it will be stepping up its enforcement at a licensing applications committee meeting on Tuesday, June 11.

Up until now, taxi licensing enforcement officers have only been able to issue tickets if drivers refuse to turn off their engines when warned.

Engine idling is defined as ‘running a vehicle’s engine when the vehicle is not in motion’.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment and Transport, said to taxi union representatives at the meeting: “I am now saying to council officers that where we are able to we should be serving penalty tickets to drivers that are idling unnecessarily.

“There is no excuse. Could you please say to members that we will be stepping up our enforcement.

“The days of sending warning letters are over.”

Councillors agreed to campaign to reduce engine idling as part of the Reading’s Air Quality Action Plan, at the Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport Committee on November 23, 2016.

In 2017, the council agreed to inform and communicate with taxi drivers on the harm caused by idling.

Cllr Page added: “Since then officers have repeated this same message to the trade organisations and many drivers appear to have taken the message on board. However, a minority have not.

“Taxi licencing enforcement officers routinely ask taxi drivers to turn off their engines when they visit the ranks.

“The drafting of the legislation requires that officers provide a warning to drivers and if they comply a fixed penalty notice cannot be issued.

“It is now time that further and more formal action is taken with drivers and the trade to try to change the culture around idling.

“Officers are now actively issuing fixed penalty notices for unnecessary idling at a rank where relevant signage is in place.”

A Reading Taxi Association representative said: “Everyone knows that we are not supposed to do it.

“We have been given plenty of warnings and it doesn’t need to happen. There is no excuse.”

Councillors agreed to campaign to reduce engine idling as part of the Reading’s Air Quality Action Plan, at the strategic environment, planning and transport committee on 23 November 2016.

Parents sitting outside school gates are among the worst culprits.

Most grateful for that idiots guide to English.

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IDFIMH