Choosing the right vehicle is the biggest investment a taxi or PHV driver makes for their business.
They need something that suits the type of work they will be doing – whether it is longer journeys such as airport runs, or shorter trips around town and city centres. It also needs to be reliable and affordable.
The perfect match is often a second-hand vehicle that has been well maintained and is in good condition – and has a reasonable asking price. These are key factors as drivers consider the running and maintenance costs they will face – including servicing and taxi insurance – compared to the length of time they will keep the vehicle.
Age limits
This is determined by licensing authorities which impose age limits for vehicles and often include a maximum age at which a vehicle can first be used as a taxi or PHV, as well as a maximum age at which the vehicle can be licensed for hire and reward.
The problem taxi drivers face is that as the cost of new vehicles continues to rise, it becomes more difficult for them to replace their current vehicles without paying a good deal more for newer models.
This is the situation PHV drivers in Derby currently face. They have raised objections after Derby City Council introduced restrictions which mean PHVs must be five years old or less when they are first registered for hire and reward and all vehicles can only be licensed up to the age of 15.
But as the Derby Telegraph reports, drivers in the city say the rules introduced in April are too strict and will “drive them out of business” and are instead calling for age limits to be scrapped altogether.
Consultation
Following the controversy over the new age limits, the council has launched a public consultation. The Derby Telegraph reports that the rule aims to “ensure vehicles are in good condition and more likely to meet current safety and emissions standards” and the council says most drivers would not be affected by the change which does not apply to taxis.
But PHV drivers in the city say new drivers are likely to be put off by entering the trade and would have to spend thousands of pounds on vehicles that meet the requirements.
Following their objections, the council agreed to review the new rules and a 12-week public consultation was agreed and is currently under way.
Residents are being asked whether they want to keep the current five-year age limit or remove the age limits entirely.
Options
Another option is the introduction of different age limits for licensing new PHVs, such as seven or nine years.
Limits such as these would see Derby more in line with neighbouring councils, such as Wolverhampton, which has an 11-year limit and South Derbyshire which imposes a seven-year limit.
The Telegraph reports that licensing committee member Cllr Martin Rawson told the meeting: “The drivers have turned out in force and the committee has listened to all the evidence on both sides. It is about improving the environment and cutting emissions, but also making sure we’ve got a sustainable taxi trade and we are not driving people out of business.”
The council’s drive for safety and vehicle standards is understandable, but with the rising cost of new vehicles, there is real danger it will force PHV drivers out of the trade if the council keeps the low age limits for vehicles.
It is reassuring that it has listened to drivers and will review the decision following a public consultation. The big problem with imposing changes such as this is drivers plan their business around purchasing their vehicle. Having to suddenly start again with a different vehicle that is more expensive runs the real risk of driving people out of the trade.
