Taxi Driver Online

Recall that Barrow was to have an all-white HC code to distinguish them from PH. After an 'outpouring of anger' from the HC trade that was scrapped in favour of removing rooflights from PH. That was then scrapped as well, presumably after another 'outpouring'.

Previous articles were in this thread:

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Taxi driver in 'boy racer' lift warning

https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17475850 ... t-warning/

A LEADING taxi driver has warned people could be sexually assaulted or end up in a “tragic road accident” if they get in cars with “boy racers” outside clubs.

Bob Mullen, secretary of the Furness Taxi Trade Association, said drivers had told him “quite often” motorists, who were not in registered or private hire vehicles or taxis, were offering lifts to revellers late at night on Cavendish Street.

Mr Mullen raised the issue at a recent Barrow Council meeting and called for private hire vehicles to be banned from displaying lighted roof signs, which he said suggested to passengers they could be used without pre-booking.

An earlier draft of council taxi policy had proposed roof signs needed to be removed from private hire vehicles but after consultation, this idea was scrapped.

Mr Mullen told councillors: “In the interests of public safety, I would like councillors to seriously consider reversing the decision made by the Licensing Committee regarding roof signs on private hire vehicles.

“The public safety issue is that the trade and no doubt the police are aware of a number of so-called “boy racers” hanging around local nightclubs in the early hours.

“Some have been observed offering lifts to people whose judgement may be impaired due to intoxication.

“Not all of these drivers have the best interests in mind of the vulnerable young people they are picking up.

“We strongly suggest that it should be publicised that for their own safety people coming out from late night venues should only get into cars with a lit roof light unless they have pre-booked.

“This is obviously not possible if private hire cars which cannot legally pick up without pre-booking also have roof lights.

“None of us wants to say we told you so after a tragic road accident or a case of sexual assault.”

Cllr Tony Callister, Barrow Council’s licensing boss said discussions were ongoing. He said: “We have formed a working group with taxi drivers and talks to find a way to properly distinguish private hire cars and taxis are currently ongoing.”

Had to read that first paragraph a couple of times to make sense of it. I'm blaming the clunky English rather than my comprehension skills, but could be wrong



Funny thing of course that neither of the two rejected options seemed especially onerous, particularly as regards removing rooflights from PHVs.

And the all-white HC proposal didn't seem the most difficult either, especially considering the likes of coloured bonnets and boots elsewhere, fancy stripes in the likes of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and of course the teal blue in Guildford

And any colour other than white for PHVs hardly a great difficulty compared to PH colour codes elsewhere, although presumably the colour code objections were from the HCs rather than PHVs.

Of course, although PHVs *without* rooflights doesn't seem radical compared to most other areas, once they've been in place for years getting rid of them is no doubt a headache.

all of this is unnecessary there's a simple solution to make a national standard

Hackney = rooflight and white plate all vehicles black,red ,blue or yellow

PH= no rooflight and yellow plate all vehicles white silver or light shades

Limo=blue plate

Novelty vehicles red plate


would avoid expensive resprays vinyl wraps etc and if joe public know the standard problem solved as far as recognition of vehicles goes

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

So banning roof lights will ban unlicensed hirings?

Or will it just make it impossible to enforce, as no one will notice anything strange a person getting into a plain car?

Or will it encourage people to get into the wrong car?

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IDFIMH

Most of the private hire cars around here are plastered with checkers stripes and huge door signs, so yes taking roof signs off them would help the public to tell the difference.

So they wont see the roof lights just the stripes and door signs?

So what difference will it make either way?

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IDFIMH

Why wouldn't they see the roofsigns then? Don't get your point!

My point is it's pointless getting rid of roof signs if the vehicle is covered in signs.

My view is that roof signs and signage are a big safety plus, and getting rid of either is a safety minus.

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IDFIMH