Taxi Driver Online

Another angle to the driver shortage, but not much to see here that hasn't been said hundreds of times before.

And article gives the impression it's going round in circles


Bogus taxi drivers put lives at risk in Plymouth

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/p ... es-6065837

City council has warned people not to grab a cheap lift with unlicensed drivers taking advantage of shortages in the trade

People in Plymouth have been warned not to take a cheap lift with a bogus taxi driver - because they could be putting their lives at risk.

The city council said today that unvetted drivers are cashing in on the shortage of genuine cabbies by picking up passengers at busy times.

The authority said it is receiving more complaints regarding unlicensed drivers advertising on social media - some offering as little as £5 for a return trip to the city centre.

Read next: Princess Yachts must pay £200,000 for health and safety failings

But the council said it was dangerous to travel in unsafe or uninsured cars with drivers who are not properly vetted.

Cllr John Riley the Cabinet Member responsible for Community Safety and Licensing, said: "Using an unlicensed vehicle could put your safety in jeopardy and in the worst case scenario, could be the last journey you make.

"No one wants their lives devastated by a car accident they could be uninsured for just because of the desire to get home quickly after a night out."

The council and the genuine taxi trade has admitted that licensed drivers can be hard to find after the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit.

One boss admitted that some drivers were cherry-picking the best times and routes - and not always picking up revellers from the city centre in the early hours.

The council said that fake drivers were also undercutting licensed taxi and private hire vehicle fares and harming the livelihoods of approved drivers.

Cllr Riley added: “We want everyone to enjoy their nights out in Plymouth which is why we are urging people to take sensible steps to avoid unscrupulous bogus taxi drivers who put earning illegal extra money before people’s safety."

“We are urging people to only use a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle and if not, to have a designated driver within their group on a night out.”

The council’s licensing team has already contacted several drivers who have been advertising on social media, but there are still others operating illegally in the city.

Drivers who carry passengers for a fee without a taxi or private hire licence are committing a number of offences and could face prosecution and fines or points on their licence.

Councillor Riley added: “Our message is very clear you cannot offer a taxi service without a taxi or private hire licence. It is a criminal offence and we will take action against you.

"We take any allegations of rogue taxi drivers very seriously and will investigate any reports so I would urge residents to contact us if they have any issues. You can do that via our website www.plymouth.gov.uk/licensingandpermits ... complaints or by emailing taxi.licensing@plymouth.gov.uk.”

The council said that the COVID-19 outbreak has caused a national lack of taxi drivers .

The authority said in June that number of hackney carriage drivers had fallen from 387 to 312 in the previous 12 months.

Private hire drivers - booked in advance over the phone or via an app - reduced in number from 803 to 690, according to official figures.

But two leading taxi bosses in the city believe those numbers may underestimate shortage because they represent licence holders rather than working cabbies.

But the problem of rogue drivers does not just stem from the start of the pandemic in March last year.

Dave McIntosh, head of operations for Need-A-Cab? taxis, warned the public to beware of rogue drivers advertising on social media in January 2020.

He told PlymouthLive that people were putting themselves in serious danger by using ‘cowboy’ taxis as they had no idea who the driver was and no record of the journey.

Under the rules governing taxis in Plymouth, all licensed private hire and cab drivers have to have a full background check to ensure they are a “fit and proper person” to do the job.

An authority spokesperson said officers were working with employment agencies and taxi companies to encourage more drivers to join the trade.

To find out more and how to apply visit the Council’s website. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/licensingan ... plications.