Calls for higher standards of taxi legislation
There have been calls for national taxi legislation to ensure standards across the UK, as well as closing loopholes that benefit some taxi drivers over others.
One of the biggest issues has been legislation which allows taxi licences to be issued by one authority while the driver is actually operating in another. A consequence of this loophole has been that some drivers have benefitted from some licensing authorities charging different fees.
Taxi drivers concerned about cab colour change
Plans to give Newcastle’s black cabs a distinctive makeover have been parked for now following concerns from the city’s taxi drivers.
Newcastle City Council planned to introduce white bonnets to the city’s fleet of almost 600 public hire black taxis – to reflect Newcastle United’s famous black and white shirts – in a bid to make travelling by taxi safer for everyone.
Taxi boss wants black cabs and PHVs to be treated equally
Plans for a £36 million city-centre pedestrianisation scheme have come under fire from private hire taxi drivers who would be banned from the area, while black cabs would still be allowed to operate.
And STV News reports that Edinburgh Council could face legal action from at least one private hire boss who called the decision to ban PHVs “ludicrous”.
Boost for Sheffield taxi drivers who already own greener cars
As more Clean Air Zones appear around the country, it’s good to see help is available to taxi drivers to make the switch to less-polluting vehicles.
We recently mentioned Newcastle Council’s grants to help taxi drivers replace older, polluting vehicles with newer, greener models operating in its Clean Air Zone.
What do you think of plans for national taxi legislation?
Safety is key to the taxi fleet and there are rules in place to make sure taxi drivers are fit and proper people to pick up fares, as well as checks to ensure their vehicles are safe to carry passengers.
Whether it is a black cab or private hire vehicle, all drivers must comply in order to work in the fleet, and they must be licensed with their local authority.
Has your taxi been victim to a hit-and-run?
Drivers who hit other vehicles and flee without reporting the damage cause huge inconvenience and expense to their innocent victims, especially if they are taxi drivers who rely on their cars to earn a living.
Damage to any vehicle is expensive to repair and being off the road causes huge disruption because it can affect livelihoods and lead to increased premiums if a claim is made.
Separating fact and fiction of what you can and can’t do driving a taxi
We all know that using a mobile phone while driving a taxi is illegal, but what about eating a snack, wearing Ugg boots, or having fluffy dice hanging from the mirror?
Will sipping tea or coffee, or driving at night with the interior light on earn a taxi driver points on their licence?
Will you be fined for driving your cab in low emissions zones?
Clean air and low emissions zones are expanding across the UK and taxi drivers whose vehicles don’t meet tougher environmental standards fear the daily charges could force them off the road.
As Glasgow city centre’s LEZ goes live next month, taxi drivers were worried that the £60 charge for older, non-compliant vehicles would stop them operating in the area.
What do you think about CCTV cameras in taxis?
Each person in the UK is recorded about 70 times a day by CCTV cameras in places ranging from shops and streets to our homes and offices . . . but they remain a contentious issue for taxi drivers.
Arguments for and against installing cameras in black cabs and private hire vehicles have rumbled on for years.
Convictions and claims won’t put the brakes on taxi insurance deals
Taxi drivers pay higher taxi insurance premiums because of the amount of time they spend on the road, so it is no surprise that they could face even greater costs after a claim or conviction.
But this does not mean the end of the road for good deals on their taxi insurance – as long as they are honest with their taxi insurer and taxi insurance broker, when it comes to taking out or renewing their policy.
Catalytic converter theft effects taxi drivers
Taxi drivers are calling for action to tackle the problem of catalytic converter thefts which can leave their cars off the road for weeks and facing hefty repair bills.
Since the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, thieves have become more inventive and ruthless as they find new ways to make money.
Taxi drivers warned about cyclists
As more taxi drivers are using dash-cam footage to protect themselves in case of a crash, cabbies are being warned about spies on two wheels recording their every move.
The message comes after ‘sneaky’ cyclists have recorded taxi drivers and other professional drivers doing things that they shouldn’t.