Taxi Driver Online

Not sure what the relevance of the survey is, since drivers are free to install CCTV as it is.

So maybe it's more like a majority backed the council paying for the installation of CCTV

Anyway, no prizes for guessing which authority may be the one referred to as regards caution about compulsory CCTV

And, of course, not that long since lots of stuff about Uber upsetting the applecart in Darlington...


Plans to install CCTV in Darlington taxis and improve safety backed by drivers

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/plans-install ... 00082.html


Image: Northern Echo

Proposals to install CCTV inside taxis have been supported by a majority of Darlington drivers.

Introducing inward-facing CCTV in taxis is among several changes proposed by Darlington Borough Council to make Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles safer.

A recent public survey on the local authority’s updated taxi policy found 64 per cent of respondents backed installing CCTV, with 30 per cent against.

Darlington Borough Council says the move would protect taxi drivers and passengers, but faces several issues before being made mandatory.

Currently, no other local authorities in the North East have mandated the installation of CCTV cameras inside taxis, and there are fears that it would force local drivers to register with authorities elsewhere.

A council report added: “If this were made policy, there would be a significant financial incentive for proprietors to license their vehicles elsewhere, thereby reducing effective local control in Darlington.”

Suitable CCTV systems are estimated to cost between £500 and £1,000 alongside maintenance costs.

If a blanket approach to CCTV is introduced, the council would be responsible as the data controller for the data in each licensed vehicle and held liable for any breach of data protection by a driver/operator.

Increased costs incurred by the trade will “inevitably be passed on to those using the service”, the council added.

Drivers are already allowed to install their own CCTV, provided they follow the appropriate guidelines.

The council recommendation concludes: “A pragmatic approach would be to continue with our current policy of encouraging the voluntary use of CCTV, with licence holders following national guidance, whilst a longer-term policy decision is made in line with our regional/national colleagues to ensure there is no incentive to be licensed elsewhere.”

Enhanced vehicle testing and checks, mandatory disability awareness training, improved signage, and more payment methods have also been suggested by the local authority.

The proposals and responses to the public consultation are due to be discussed by councillors on a licensing committee next Tuesday (October 21).

Changes to the council’s taxi policy were last made in 2022, as the trade struggled to recover from the financial effects of Covid-19. Then, vehicle age restrictions and the requirement for private hire drivers to take a topographical test were removed.

Makes it sound like removing the topo test was doing drivers a favour - open the floodgates, why don't you?

So if it was doing anyone a favour then it was presumably the circuits and proprietors

So what other safety features do the council want to bin to maintain their taxi/PH fleet?

Or maybe they want to reduce, to nothing, their safety features to attract the Wolverhampton massive.

_________________
IDFIMH

Nothing particularly surprising here.

Maybe a sop to Uber right at the end, though?

Wouldn't have needed that back in the day


Darlington taxis to be made safer after new rules approved

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/ ... -approved/

New rules aimed at making Darlington taxis safer have been supported by councillors.

Drivers will be required to take disability awareness training and provide a car payment option to customers under the measures introduced by Darlington Borough Council.

Inward-facing CCTV has been recommended for voluntary installation instead of a mandatory requirement after concerns from taxi drivers across the borough.

A points-based system for minor breaches of rules will also be introduced alongside a requirement for increased mechanical inspections.

The changes were approved at a full council meeting on Thursday (January 29).

A public survey on the local authority’s updated taxi policy found 64 per cent of respondents backed installing CCTV, with 30 per cent against. However, only 21 per cent of respondents were from the taxi trade, the council said.

Despite support from the public, the authority warned it faced several obstacles.

Currently, no other local authorities in the North East have mandated the installation of CCTV cameras inside taxis, and there are fears that it would force local drivers to register with authorities elsewhere.

A council report added: “If this were made policy, there would be a significant financial incentive for proprietors to license their vehicles elsewhere, thereby reducing effective local control in Darlington.”

Suitable CCTV systems are estimated to cost between £500 and £1,000 alongside maintenance costs. Increased costs incurred by the trade will “inevitably be passed on to those using the service”, the council added.

Drivers are already allowed to install their own CCTV, provided they follow the appropriate guidelines.

Other new measures include requiring ‘private hire prebooking only’ signage on the front doors of vehicles to distinguish them from taxis.

The updated policy will also remove the necessity for the name of the operator to be displayed on the vehicle, as drivers may work for more than one operator.