Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies look outside town to get licences from neighbouring authority

COUNCIL chiefs at Mole Valley have said they will review the way they license new taxi drivers after a huge increase in applications. Some cabbies from Crawley are sitting their tests in the neighbouring local authority because it is easier to pass than the Crawley Council one, and drivers are not required to have stickers on their vehicles.

The number of new drivers licensed by Mole Valley has risen from 540 in 2003 to 863 already this year. A Mole Valley Council spokesman told the News: "There is nothing in the law that says that you can't operate, drive or have a vehicle licensed by another authority. "Our tests are not as stringent as neighbouring authorities. "However,we do care about the issues raised and the way of obtaining licences is currently under review."

Drivers who are licensed by Crawley Council are locked in a long-running dispute with the council over the need for them to have permanent stickers on their cars. They want removable magnetic signs, but the council say they would pose a risk if they were stolen and used by unlicensed drivers.

They have started a petition, which has so far been signed by other drivers and customers in support of their campaign, and have also threatened legal action.

Zainool Ebrahin, of the Crawley Licenced Cab Drivers' Association, said: "Mole Valley drivers are not required to have any stickers. "How can you let people without stickers drive in Crawley when we have to have them? "The council has said it is a matter of safety that we cannot have magnets and so is this."

A spokesman for Crawley Council said: "We have a very good relationship with taxi drivers in town and we value high standards that they meet with our council. "However, we can't stop other licencing authorities licensing private hire vehicles beyond their boundary. "We think it is wrong and we have spoken to other councils to ask them to stop doing this."

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IDFIMH

Perhaps this is a reason for proper signage.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5399600.stm

And I agree fully with Mr Wright MBE.

Mr Wright said: "Minicabs are licensed now and in London we're campaigning for better signage. We want to see more visibility and the ability to put the name of the company on the car. People need to see it is a cab from the outside of the vehicle."

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IDFIMH

I can see the drivers point, what if they want to use the cab for personal use, like go on there hols, or for a weekend away, why don't they insist on roof signs, that can be removed and put in the boot.
having stickers on your cab reduces the value, because if they are left on long enough and are removed you can still see the names and numbers as the paint around the stickers fades

I understand their problems but a PH is always a PH, and a few stickers isn't going to effect the re-sale value, which in most cases is f*** all anyway.

All I'm concerned with is getting the right punters into the right licensed vehicle.

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IDFIMH