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News - June 2014

Supporting London Cabbies with 'The Knowledge'

Ever wondered how London cab drivers get about the city so easily? Many people will have heard about the detailed training and testing that London cabbies go through to obtain a job as a London taxi driver, but few know that this skill is being undermined. 
 
The Week website has an interesting article exploring the new web app Uber which allows people to use their phone to hail a taxi and agree a fare. Uber apparently allows drivers to work for them without undertaking the rigourous testing that The Knowledge has traditionally demanded. Also Uber is apparently not subject to the Private Hire Vehicles Act.
 
This month, London's black cab drivers have protested by bringing parts of the city to a standstill. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) says its protest is not aimed at Uber, but at Transport for London, who they say is failing to hold the phone-based taxi service to the proper taxi driver regulations.
 
The LTDA's general secretary, Steve McNamara, said:  "Transport for London not enforcing the Private Hire Vehicles Act is dangerous for Londoners." 
 
The Southampton Hackney Association  want to show their support for the London Cabbies with their argument against Uber - who enlist drivers to work for them without having to spend three years plus in doing The Knowledge.
 
 

Posted in News by Admin on 18/06/2014

Two Southampton Private Hire Drivers Fined

The Daily Echo has reported on two Private Hire car drivers  who have been fined in the city, after picking up passengers who had not pre-booked.  
 
As the Southampton Hackney Association have mentioned on many occasions, it is only the white licensed taxi drivers who can pick passengers up from the roadside in and around our city at taxi ranks. The various private hire vehicles , (which can be any colour) that you see around are not insured or licensed to do so.
 
The courtoom heard were told that Southampton city council officials had carried out one of their regular random checks on Private Hire cars, and spotted one of the drivers picking up passengers illegally in Bedford Place. The driver pleaded guilty to breaching his private hire licence and not having the appropriate insurance.
 
The second driver picked up two customers at Leisureworld, not realising they were city council officials carrying out checks on Private Hire Drivers behaviour. This driver also admitted two other charges, and was fined £200 with a £30 surcharge fee and £200 costs.
 
The Southampton Hackney Association are keen to underline that the white taxi cabs found across the city are licensed taxis. Licensing is carried out by Southampton City Council. As such it is safe to hail them at the roadside, or to get in at one of the cities many taxi ranks - here is a list to help you find us:
 
Both sides of the Southampton train station - in Commercial Road side and on theToys R Us side
West Quay - Portland Terrace opposite main entrance to West Quay shopping centre
Portland Terrace, near bus stops by Asda
At the Bargate in High Street by A Plan Insurance
Town Quay outside Red Jet Terminal (IOW)
Terminus Terrace, near to Oxford Street
Above Bar Street, opposite Yates pub
Church Street in Shirley
Portswood High Street
Bitterne - Angel Crescent
Opposite Debenhams in Queensway
Leisureworld cinema entrance
Hannover Buildings outside Santander bank
Bannister Street outside Night Club (night time only)
St. Mary's Road outside British Gas offices (night time only)
London Road (night time only)
 
Take a licensed white southampton taxi and keep safe
 

Posted in News by Admin on 10/06/2014

Always be safe, take a licensed white taxi in Southampton

Did you know that there are two types of cab on Southampton city's roads?

One is the licensed white Hackney Carriage Taxis, which can be found in around the city centre. These are the cabs which you can safely hail at the roadside or pick up at a taxi rank. The cars and drivers are wholly insured to pick up passengers in and around the city.

The other sort of cab are the Private Hire taxis, also known as minicabs (which can be any colour). These must be pre-booked and must never pick people up from the roadside as they do not have insurance to do so.  If there were to be an accident, the passengers who were picked up at the kerbside would not be covered for any injury.

A very worrying new piece of legislation highlighted by sky.com means that Private Hire drivers could loan their cars to anyone whilst they are not driving them. The article explains that this could put people, and especially women at risk, since they would have no idea that the driver was not a licensed private hire car driver. As it stands, minicabs and private hire cars can only be driven by a person who has undergone medical, background and criminal record checks by the council, and given a license. However, under the new law, drivers can loan their cars to anyone, with the idea that this helps drivers by allowing their partners and family members to use their cars - rather than having to own a second vehicle.

Campaigners say this new ruling could be taken advantage of, and might lead to sexual predators targetting victims. The article quotes Rachel Griffin from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust who says: "We know that posing as a legitimate minicab driver is the preferred method of some quite dangerous sexual predators and we know that from the statistics in London where sexual assaults by bogus minicab drivers are worryingly high."  The fear is that unlicensed drivers could target people who are vulnerable after having a drink and a late night. 
 
With Southampton's licensed Hackney Carriage Drivers being in clearly marked white vehicles, it is very easy to know which taxis are licensed to safely carry you in and around our city centre.  Hail a white taxi at the roadside, or find one at a taxi rank in Southampton. You can double check you can spot a white licensed Hackney Carriage Taxi by the photos below.
 
 
use a white taxi in southampton and keep safe
 
 

Posted in News by Admin on 06/06/2014

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