JD wrote:
captain cab wrote:
How many of the converted vehicles have the European whole wide vehicle specification (fit for purpose)?
How many of the converted vehicles are effectively cut and shuts?
LTI have set the standard for many years, whilst I own converted vehicles myself and have done for a considerable period of time, they are in many respects 'throw away vehicles' and after 3 or 4 years comparable to similar saloon vehicles used for the same (or similar tasks).
LTI are culpable, but not to the extent some would believe.
CC
With all due respect I don't think its up to you, Mr. Lambert, me or anyone else to tell drivers how to spend their money do you? On the other hand perhaps you do? Wasn't it the NTA who recommended the Doblo be outlawed as a hackney carriage? Something you applauded if my memory serves me well? That was very sporting of the NTA but what did it actually have to do with them? After all when all these wheelchair vehicles were tested at Loughborough College the Doblo passed with flying colours.
I wonder if the NTA thinks it has the right to tell tens of thousands of hackney carriage owners what they can and cannot drive? Certainly Mr. Lambert does but then his organisation represents less than five percent of the Taxi trade and the NTA probably represents even less.
Any ideas why LTI can't convince the flagship drivers of Brighton to buy their vehicles? If they did perhaps Brighton wouldn't have the situation they have at the moment in respect of wavs? Is it also not the case that 80% of the NTA membership is made up of local organisations that drive saloon type vehicles? Is there any reason why LTI hasn't been able to break into that particular market? Perhaps the only reason why drivers buy LTI vehicles is because in the main they have to.
You mention LTI setting the standard? Well if that be the case then I must have been driving a completely different vehicle to the ones you have driven over the years because as far as my colleagues and I are concerned LTI vehicles have always been overpriced, basic and a piece of junk.
However, I don't think we need get into a heated debate about the quality of LTI vehicles, the overriding principle here is vehicle choice and as I said previously, you, me or anyone else does not have the right to impose their will on other drivers.
If you, the NTA, Mr. Lambert or anyone else think they do have the right to impose their will on every tom, dick and harry who drives a cab, then I'm sure we would all like to hear why?
Regards
JD
Your right JD, that’s why I spoke against this resolution during the 2005 conference in London.
However, there does seem to be evidence that these vehicles place the driver and passenger in the highway when loading wheelchairs. In the view of some that is more of a risk than side loading.
The rear loaders need space behind to load wheelchairs, as you will be more than aware, rank space is not exactly in abundance in many areas.
There is also the question of how the passenger escapes the vehicle in the event of a rear end shunt. You will be aware of LA's who refuse to license Ford Galaxy’s and suchlike for 6 passengers for similar reasons?
On top of all this you will be aware that the spinal injuries people have voiced their concerns over the vehicle.
I find your take on this very strange. I can recall associations in Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham effectively splitting the old NFTA because they thought everywhere should have purpose built vehicles, whereas the policy on the NFTA was freedom of choice.
Incidentally the policy of the NTA is still freedom of choice, except in the case of rear loaders.
When I mentioned LTI setting the standards, I did of course mean working to the standard, the standard set by the PCO.
One way of looking at it is that LTI have worked to the criteria set, whereas others wish to effectively lower the standards of conditions to suit their own product.
If you spin this around, perhaps we should go down the road of watering down standards of drivers, because knowledge tests, CRB's and medicals are too difficult?
It’s rather strange that the trade cites standards when it comes to East Europeans, but are less keen on seeing standards imposed on vehicles!
I always presumed you came from Manchester, I haven’t heard of either you or your colleagues approaching the council in Manchester to change the vehicle criteria there.
Are you therefore not the same as the NTA and Mr. Lambert, as you are seemingly crying out for freedom of choice, but are seemingly settled with your own limited choice of vehicles.
Regards
CC
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