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[Lizzie_Zoom]

I have had BBC Watchdog on in the background as I have been working, and they have just shown inspectors pulling in taxi drivers to check them and their vehicles.

One driver, quite reasonably I believe, was moaning that there profession are constantly being checked by the authorities.  He pointed out something I certainly never knew; they have a yearly compliance test which is "harder than a standard MOT", along with a further TWO MOT's per year.  One every six months.

What do the taxi drivers on this forum think about this?

Is it right and just, in the interests of the general public, or is it OTT?

Love to have some observations on this, and other facts in the life of a taxi driver on the legal front.

 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

They have also just advised a green miggy taxi driver to replace a cover where he has been previously towed.

Was that any of you here?

[05omegav6]

Have posted my feelings on such things. Bi annual inspection is to Mot standard, but is pass or fail, no advisories allowed. It also includes the condition of the body work ie free from significant defects and the interior for cleanliness and condition. Some LAs are less stringent, ours were reasonably firm. Mechanical inspection is followed more or less instantly by a Council inspection to confirm that the condition of the vehicle in the testers opinion matches the licensing officers opinion. If you have a reputation for letting things slip, then expect a rougher ride. However if you keep on top of servicing/repairs, then never really an issue

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Thanks al

That is the type of insight I was looking for.  When you see something on TV you always wonder exactly what the truth is, when I haven't got the foggiest.

[TheBoy]

I'm guessing that Milton Keynes council is less stringent, as they allow any deathtrap to be used as a taxi

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I'm guessing that Milton Keynes council is less stringent, as they allow any deathtrap to be used as a taxi

The checks on the BBC were in Ellesmere Port, so you could be right TB!

[the alarming man]

I'm guessing that Milton Keynes council is less stringent, as they allow any deathtrap to be used as a taxi

kent is another......some of the heaps i see...i think drivers also need mot'ing on manners....i see my neighbour unloading boot full of shopping 2 kids...and driver sat on his butt...i did help her but honestley some people:y

[Taxi_Driver]

Swindon BC (LA for me) have these rules for private hire vehicles

A new vehicle gets an standard MOT every year (plus extras), so out of the showroom to the MOT station, until its 5 years old. Then it gets a twice yearly standard MOT (plus extras) until its 10 years old......Then its too old...end of. Also you cannot 'first' plate a vehicle if its more than 5 years old.

Oh and you cannot take it to any MOT station......it has to be council approved.... which i think there are two in Swindon.....Oh and you carnt get the MOT for £35 or whatever the place is advertising.....you pay the council £53 ish (i think). The council pay the MOT station ( about half of what you've paid )

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Swindon BC (LA for me) have these rules for private hire vehicles

A new vehicle gets an standard MOT every year (plus extras), so out of the showroom to the MOT station, until its 5 years old. Then it gets a twice yearly standard MOT (plus extras) until its 10 years old......Then its too old...end of. Also you cannot 'first' plate a vehicle if its more than 5 years old.

Oh and you cannot take it to any MOT station......it has to be council approved.... which i think there are two in Swindon.....Oh and you carnt get the MOT for £35 or whatever the place is advertising.....you pay the council £53 ish (i think). The council pay the MOT station ( about half of what you've paid )

Thanks Taxi Driver!

I have learn't something today......yet again!

[05omegav6]

Some people actually kick off if you offer What's to say that the driver hadn't offered and had been politely declined

Different people expect different things, and offering assistance might be graciously accepted by one person, and rudely rebuked by another... Also, in this day and age, you could easily get dragged before the council for damaging peoples shopping, (broken eggs/bottles/jars), not to mention people claiming that the driver had put the bags down in the wrong order. They then ring the office to complain, expecting the company to refund their journey and pay for the shopping. And don't forget that you're not insured if you trip or fall on private property.

Pre war terraced streets are the worst for picking up/dropping off in. Cars parked either side, only room for one vehicle in the carriageway. Double park. Offer to help with shopping, only to be told no it's ok I can manage... Two minutes later there's a queue of cars trying to get past both ways, and you, the driver are getting called every name under the sun (and a few more) because the person you've just dropped off can't find their keys/has gone in to get some change... In most every walk of life, the vast majority of people think they are more important than you or any one else, and they're not afraid to let the whole world know about it.

Having been driving a cab for the last 6 years, and I have learnt a few things:

1. I really didn't enjoy going to work, but it pays the bills.
2. 15% of passengers are a pleasure.
3. 60% of passengers I could take or leave.
4. The other 25% are complete soles, that I wish I'd never had the misfortune to meet.
5. The vast majority of the remaining population have no consideration for anything or anyone else. This is either by wilful neglect, or more often, because it hasn't occurred to them to stop and consider the implications that they have on the people around them, sadly. Most of them don't even have the blocks to admit it

As I've said before, albeit more politely, if all people insist on doing is to criticise everyone else, then FFS put yourself in their position first At least then a reasonable discussion can be had.

There are far too many people assuming/prejudging/ drawing the wrong conclusions because they don't know or don't understand or just don't care what has lead to a particular situation, and it really grips my sh*t.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Oh yes, there is always another side to any story al!

I have heard some pretty nasty things that taxi drivers have had to put up with down here in Kent.  One ended up getting murdered!

[05omegav6]

Swindon BC (LA for me) have these rules for private hire vehicles

A new vehicle gets an standard MOT every year (plus extras), so out of the showroom to the MOT station, until its 5 years old. Then it gets a twice yearly standard MOT (plus extras) until its 10 years old......Then its too old...end of. Also you cannot 'first' plate a vehicle if its more than 5 years old.

Oh and you cannot take it to any MOT station......it has to be council approved.... which i think there are two in Swindon.....Oh and you carnt get the MOT for £35 or whatever the place is advertising.....you pay the council £53 ish (i think). The council pay the MOT station ( about half of what you've paid )

Just to add to that...

The thing that a lot of people don't realise is that every Licensing Authority draws its Licensing Conditions from the local byelaws, based on the Towns Act 18..summat. These form the concrete standard for Hackney Carriages. Their Private Hire legislation is then based on this, but is a Guidance rather than byelaw.

Although the same Act of Parliament is used, it is interpreted by each Local Authority in a manner that they see fit, hence the wide variations across the country, including types of vehicle, age of vehicle, colour of vehicle, markings roofsigns etc etc. In Horsham, Taxis and PHVs are MOT exempt in so far as the Council issue an Mot exemption Certificate with each annual licence because they insist that the vehicle is 'tested to beyond MoT requirements' every six months, essentially the council guarantee that any licenced vehicle operating under its authority is more than MOT compliant. We aren't so strictly controlled as to which garage carries out our tests, but they must be registered MoT stations and also within the district

[05omegav6]

Oh yes, there is always another side to any story al!

I have heard some pretty nasty things that taxi drivers have had to put up with down here in Kent.  One ended up getting murdered!

I personally know of three drivers in Horsham who have been held up at knife point, I've been assaulted twice, and I actually struggle to think of any of my colleagues who haven't been verbally/physically threatened. It really is the 15% that keep you going sometimes

[tigers_gonads]

More like the other way round this way 

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Hammer-attack-taxi-driver-jailed-breaking-Hull/story-17039926-detail/story.html

or

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Taxi-driver-broke-Hull-man-s-neck-metal-bar/story-16871663-detail/story.html

[the alarming man]

Some people actually kick off if you offer What's to say that the driver hadn't offered and had been politely declined

Different people expect different things, and offering assistance might be graciously accepted by one person, and rudely rebuked by another... Also, in this day and age, you could easily get dragged before the council for damaging peoples shopping, (broken eggs/bottles/jars), not to mention people claiming that the driver had put the bags down in the wrong order. They then ring the office to complain, expecting the company to refund their journey and pay for the shopping. And don't forget that you're not insured if you trip or fall on private property.

Pre war terraced streets are the worst for picking up/dropping off in. Cars parked either side, only room for one vehicle in the carriageway. Double park. Offer to help with shopping, only to be told no it's ok I can manage... Two minutes later there's a queue of cars trying to get past both ways, and you, the driver are getting called every name under the sun (and a few more) because the person you've just dropped off can't find their keys/has gone in to get some change... In most every walk of life, the vast majority of people think they are more important than you or any one else, and they're not afraid to let the whole world know about it.

Having been driving a cab for the last 6 years, and I have learnt a few things:

1. I really didn't enjoy going to work, but it pays the bills.
2. 15% of passengers are a pleasure.
3. 60% of passengers I could take or leave.
4. The other 25% are complete soles, that I wish I'd never had the misfortune to meet.
5. The vast majority of the remaining population have no consideration for anything or anyone else. This is either by wilful neglect, or more often, because it hasn't occurred to them to stop and consider the implications that they have on the people around them, sadly. Most of them don't even have the blocks to admit it

As I've said before, albeit more politely, if all people insist on doing is to criticise everyone else, then FFS put yourself in their position first At least then a reasonable discussion can be had.

There are far too many people assuming/prejudging/ drawing the wrong conclusions because they don't know or don't understand or just don't care what has lead to a particular situation, and it really grips my sh*t.

nope just an ignorant lazy tit...i know for a fact he did'nt offer as i was told so,also had a basin full of the arse when i broke my arm and he did'nt offer to help me either,as i said more spot checks and ANY behaviour like his taken off the road immediately with no second chances