Taxi Driver Online

Well gentlemen, I used Sat-Nav for the first time over the last couple of days while driving my sister’s car in and around Edinburgh. The reason she bought the device was for travelling to Dog Shows up and down the country. I never even thought to try it out until borrowing her car.

I can now tell you without any shadow of a doubt that topographical knowledge tests in Cities the size of Edinburgh are a waste of time. There is nothing a PH driver could not learn while gaining practical experience through using Sat-Nav. I reckon it would only take a novice driving fulltime, maybe 6 months to a year to become as good as any new taxi driver who has sat “the knowledge” in Edinburgh.

I expect some who work in cities like London to pour scorn on this idea and maybe they are right in doing so, but London is a huge metropolis. Edinburgh is not.

Yes I agree, Sat-Nav is not infallible, but neither is any new driver, and without driving experience some would say they are a liability.

Now I know where all the Ph in Edinburgh are coming from….

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

And what happens when said satnav developes a fault and has to be returned to the manufacturer for the second time in a month, and the driver is satnavless for a week at a time?

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Former taxi driver

He blames roadworks and makes more money on the meter

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

If you are that concerned there is nothing stopping you having a back-up unit if your main one fails. You can get the basic tom tom for around £150. My sister tells me “as long as you back-up your data and get regular up-dates there is no problem”. You can reset the unit and download all the info you need to get it going again, it’s all automatic. Technical faults that cannot be resolve by resetting the device are apparently pretty rare. You have only to up-date regularly to prevent any problems. These devices are getting smarter and more reliable all the time. As far as I can see they not only take up-dates downloaded from your computer but relay information back to the satellite when you are on the run to evolve their software.

I take it you feel threatened by this new technology Jimbo?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

If quality control was keeping my wages up then I'd certainly feel threatened.

As it is, they give anyone with a pulse a badge in my manor, so no threat there then

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Satnavs a handy thing to have, especially for jobs outside your own area, but it can sometimes cause confusion and there is no substitute for local knowledge, a mixture of the two is quite good though.

One of the problems though is that they cant understand the one way systems and road closures etc, the stopping up of roads is so random in many places now I suppose it would be hard for the software developers to keep up with them.

I think the problem comes when the punter doesn't know the name or it's spelt incorrectly.

Or maybe they say the place with the white wall next to the pink house. Can't see a sat-nav working that one out.

And how pleased will the cabbies behind you be when they are all waiting to move on, and you are there faffing around.

I think sat-nav is a great aid, but through playing around with mine, they will never replace local knowledge.

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IDFIMH

Not threatened, I was being literal. Just sent mine back again, (heavy sigh) so they can send me a replacement unit. This one lasted all of two weeks.

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Former taxi driver

Jimbo I've had my tom tom for 2 years and no problems, it has all the speed cameras on it, I think you can now get cards that cover any area in the world, and a card for you local area only, i don't know if Edinburgh and area is obtainable on 1 card but if it is, Skull look out for Skippy's PH

TomTom cards come in "regional" as in the whole UK. Then theres one with different options in euro maps such as UK and all major euro roads, or detailed maps of Europe. Then of course for elsewhere in the world such as the USA (which breaks down into regions itself.)

I use a Garmin unit and, like people say, it won't replace local knowlege but it is great for getting to places that I have never been to.

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Grandad,

Yes, I would agree with all that is written, but my point is, that local knowledge can be acquired through experience i.e. doing the job. So why not learn on the run? I can see a great advantage in not studying maps in the classroom but gaining the knowledge and experience you need by actually doing the job.

No one is saying don’t contact control if you have a query or don’t carry maps or info on places of interest. But there is no reason I can see for sitting in a class room with your thumb up your bum looking at maps.


I think this technology is definitely the way forward…the knowledge is on it’s way out….

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

If anyone's interested maplins are doing an offer at the mo, £100 for a £200+ system.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... 1&doy=26m4

I can see the day coming when the councils make it law that every taxi should be fitted with one at all times.P.S have you ever used your tom tom with polish voice over for a laugh. You do on arf get a funny response from the passengers

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07K29Fc15U

I don't think they will need to, more likely every car will come with sat-nav as standard.

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IDFIMH