Taxi Driver Online

I am PH, driver and controller, and I state right know, WE DO NOT DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS TAXIS, 90% of my drivers can't even speak english properly!!.
What we need is english speaking drivers who know how to read an A-Z.
We need to sort our house out first before we can start making demands.

Well if it's the licensing system that's at fault then shouldn't it be a condition of that licence that a firm should demonstrate that they are looking after the needs of drivers as well as customers.

Indeed well done, I look forward to reading what happened in the Courier.

And of course GBC making some snide comments about it.

Ollie

Well done to those at the Lambeth Mini Cab Forum who are organising the door to door campaign and the support that is being given to them by the GMB.

Following the support that has been pledged for the protest the organising must start in earnest

The discrimmination against the Private Hire industry is having a devastating effect on some of the most vunerable people in society and must be confronted.

If an elderly, disabled or incapacitated person wants to be dropped off on a red route the driver faces prosecution and a fine if he complies with that wish.

Alternativly he could comply with the law and drop the person off at the nearest place legally possible. This could mean a walk of hundreds of yards for those least able to undertake such a task. (which is why they called a car in the first place).

If this isn't blatent discriminatory practice brought about by those with a vested interest I don't know what is.

The attitude of these elements seems to be, "to hell with the needs of anyone as long as I'm alright jack".

Those who wish to see the anomoly of Private Hire vehicles being denied access to bus lanes and red routes simply want to close the industry down so as they can monopolise the trade.

If a few disabled and elderly people are inconvienianced on the way their attitude seems to be " to hell with it as long as I am alright".

The forum and the GMB are quite right to campaign against the suffering that this selfish mentality perpetuates. That is the suffering of those who are being denied a door to door service.

I havn't even mentioned yet the poor drivers who are being forced out of the industry because of perpetual fines for trying to do the decent thing.

If common sense doesn't prevail there is, unfortunatly, no alternative to the type of action being proposed.

I will be at the Forum meeting on the 26th September in Streatham. hopefully with a few collegues, drivers, proprieters, controllers and others associated with private hire who are seeking fairness and a level playing field.

I havn't even mentioned yet the poor drivers who are being forced out of the industry because of perpetual fines for trying to do the decent thing.

Well if it's the licensing system that's at fault then shouldn't it be a condition of that licence that a firm should demonstrate that they are looking after the needs of drivers as well as customers.

I think there are many pieces of euro law, about health and safety, that should be being applied now in relation to drivers and punters.

The nearest comparable job, with regard to average weekly hours, that I can find is junior doctors.

There seems to be quite a detailed plan in place for them whereby their average hours will be reduced in several stages over the next few years. Looks like the final figure will be 46 or 48, not sure which.

Wouldn't be surprised if taxi and PH drivers hours legislation ended up with a similar result (but more than likely some time after that of junior doctors) with some sort of allowance added on for waiting for jobs.

TDO said

Let's hope not, since as it would be unenforceable it would benefit the cheats and penalise the scrupulous.