Taxi Driver Online

Thought this would be one of those festive advice things about plate colours, checking badges, phone a 'reputable' firm, etc etc.

But can't recall similar advice from Dundee City Council in the past. And this one doesn't follow the normal formula anyway. In fact it's very thin as compared to the normal stuff like this, and makes it sound like there's been some recent issues with badges, plates and signage etc, but it doesn't really want to be specific, because it might look bad for PR purposes

And again it's slightly odd because the opening paragraph is addressed to the trade, who are supposed to advise passengers about this. As compared to the usual stuff like this aimed at passengers

(Alternatively it could all be read as nothing really out of the ordinary, and there are no recent issues. But, again, even assuming that it looks slightly odd.)


Taxi Identification Advice

https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/news/arti ... e_ref=4822

A senior Dundee councillor is urging the taxi trade to ensure that passengers travelling during Christmas and New Year know exactly who their driver is.

Discussions have been ongoing between the city council and taxi operators to ensure that badges, plates and appropriate signage are displayed at all times.

Councillor Stewart Hunter, convener of the licensing committee, explained that the move was about giving reassurance during the festive period to people who may not travel by taxi regularly.

Cllr Hunter said: “We are working together with the taxi trade to make sure that people know exactly who their driver is when they get into a taxi.

“The display of the appropriate signage and badge is a simple way of ensuring this.

“The council works on an ongoing basis with the taxi trade to discuss issues that emerge.”

Funny thing, too, is that no mention of private hire, despite the mixed taxi/PH fleets in Dundee, not to mention that (I think) the vast majority of PHDs in those mixed 'taxi' fleets will also literally have a taxi driver's badge

Of course, maybe the word 'taxi' is being used generically in the council's press release, as is usually the case with English local authorities.

But up here the term hackney carriage isn't really used in official discourse, and in the legislation a 'for hire' vehicle is simply either a 'taxi' or 'private hire car'

So to that extent, and particularly in view of Dundee's mixed despatch office fleets, the council's press release is very one-sided.

And, of course, if you're worried about safety and enforcement etc in the context of identifying vehicles and drivers etc in the drunken environment of the festive season, you would at least try to distinguish the taxi/private hire sides in terms of hiring, signage, plates etc

A mere tick boxing exercise by the council(lor).

Maybe the council's enforcement team should be out and about a bit more during the festive period

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IDFIMH