Tampon Taxi delivering sanitary products to homeless women

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2PYrxVB

Campaigners have given one of London’s iconic taxis a makeover in a bid to create awareness of “period poverty”. According to a report in the Huffington Post, more than 40 percent of girls in the UK have had to use toilet roll to manage their period because they are unable to afford sanitary products. Not only will the stand-out taxi create awareness, it will also be handing out 5,000 sanitary products to women at homeless shelters across London. From now until December 19, the taxi will make regular stops to handout tampons, Mooncups and sanitary towels.

(Image credit: This is our period)

The idea came about when campaigner Holly Bantleman was drinking margaritas with a few friends and saw a pink taxi parked opposite. Project Period London taxi was formed, and now Holly hopes the taxi will raise awareness about period poverty, as well as encourage more people to donate and volunteer with period poverty charities. Project Period, as well as other similar campaigns are working to ensure that all women that need sanitary products have access to them.

November 28, 2018 at 02:11PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Miwhip to use supercars as minicabs

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2PWVoxz

Miwhip, the latest minicab company to obtain an operators license in London, is planning to use supercars as private hire vehicles, in its quest to topple Uber.

Five gold wrapped supercars, consisting of a Lamborghini Aventador, a Ferrari 488, a Rolls Royce Ghost II, a Mercedes G Wagon and a Mclaren 720s, will be deployed as minicabs, every 100th ride, providing that the booking is made via the Miwhip app.

The cost to the customer for the use of the vehicle will be no different to that of a Toyota Prius.

Restrictions will apply to the supercars being used, such as having to be available within five minutes journey time of the pick up address. The vehicles will also not be allocated to riders being picked up in quiet streets nor during the early hours of the morning.

The company have spent around £1.5 million on the vehicles and could be making further purchases as demand grows.

At the moment they have 4,000 drivers registered on their platform and hope to more than double that figure by the end of 2019.

Although the Miwhip app is available for download now, the company doesn't plan to start operating until the New Year.

November 28, 2018 at 12:24PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cycle Superhighway costing local businesses £5.3m a year due to traffic delays

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2RpEwMI

Local businesses situated along the notorious East West Cycle Superhighway are losing £5.3m a year due to traffic delays a recently published report has found. The report, which was conducted by transport economists Volterra and commissioned by pressure group Unblock the Embankment, claims that roughly 400 working hours are being lost a day to the cycle scheme. Traffic has increased along the stretch of road which travels between Tower Hill and Lancaster Gate. An eastbound lane for motor vehicles was lost to make way for the segregated cycle lane. City Hall have said the route was a success and would not be changed despite reports of its low usage. According to the BBC, Chris Westcott from Royal Jersey Laundry, said a journey which used to take 45 minutes to run now takes over an hour which has meant the need for more staff to complete the same amount of work on time. Mr Westport said the delays had "cost the company a fortune, circa £110,000 a year".

November 28, 2018 at 10:30AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Class action against Uber is to expand across the whole of Australia

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2DLFNcG

Class action experts Maurice Blackburn Lawyers will expand its class action against Uber nationwide, with the Victorian Supreme Court claim to now also encompass taxi and hire car drivers, operators and licence owners in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

The action is similar to that currently in its infancy in London and is also being funded by litigation experts Habour.

The expansion to states outside of Victoria will mean thousands more who had their livelihoods drastically impacted by Uber’s allegedly illegal operation will now be able to seek redress, with the total claim likely to dwarf any previous class action recovery in Australia’s history, if successful. From today, drivers from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia can register to join their Victorian counterparts in taking on Uber, by completing a simple online form. Senior Associate at Maurice Blackburn, Elizabeth O’Shea, said there were no out of pocket costs or liability risk for registrants, with the case costs being underwritten by the third party litigation funder Habour. “Uber sells a notion that it’s just here to do things differently, but in reality and as we will allege, different has meant operating unlawfully and that has caused extensive loss and damage to law-abiding taxi and hire car operators and licence holders across the country,” Ms O’Shea said. “It was Uber that came in and exploited people by operating outside of regulations, it was Uber’s conduct that led to decimating losses suffered by our group members and for those reasons it is the multi-billion dollar company Uber and its associated entities that we are targeting in order to provide redress to those affected. “This class action will likely be one of the biggest in Australia on any measure – the number of people involved, the potential recovery of compensation for law-abiding operators and licence holders, and no doubt the extent of the fight we are anticipating from the defendants. “We have a proud history of running the nation’s largest and toughest class actions and we believe that this is the best mechanism to pursue some meaningful form of justice and compensation for those who have had their lives turned upside down by Uber’s alleged illegal operation in Victoria, NSW, Qld and WA. Maurice Blackburn is Australia’s leading class action law firm, having recovered more than $2.6 billion for victims of mass wrongs since 1998. The firm is responsible for the nation’s largest class action recoveries. As mentioned the proposed action is backed by Harbour Litigation Funding Limited, a leading global funder with hubs in the UK and Asia-Pacific. “There are thousands of taxi and hire care operators and licence holders in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia and we anticipate strong interest from those that have felt the impact of Uber’s alleged unlawful entry into the Australian market, in addition to the 1000+ registrants already in Victoria alone,” Ms O’Shea said.

November 28, 2018 at 09:24AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Russell Square Cab Shelter to serve a free Christmas lunch for homeless or lonely veterans

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2Qrmz2Q

This year, thanks to a generous donation from the Taxi Charity, Russell Square Shelter Keeper Katie Simmonds Will be serving free Christmas lunches to homeless or lonely veterans. On 18th December the Russell Square Shelter will be serving a roast Christmas dinner with all the trimmings between 10am and 10pm to the homeless. This will be the fourth year that Katie has supported the homeless at Christmas and the first time she is specifically looking to help homeless and lonely veterans. In addition to the lunch Katie is wanting to give her guests a little bit more and she is hoping that cab drivers, London residents and businesses will donate hats, socks, toiletries, underwear, chocolates and biscuits, that can be packed in shoeboxes and wrapped to be given as much needed Christmas gifts. Katie Simons, Shelter Keeper says: “ this year I am serving Christmas lunch for homeless and lonely veterans and I’m delighted that the Taxi Charity is supporting the day. I love London and despite the perception that people in London don’t have time in their busy lives to stop and help, I’m always so very touched by the support I received from my fellow Londoners to help those in need.” Gary Belsey, Chairman of the Taxi Charity says: “The Taxi Charity was formed 70 years ago by London’s licensed taxi drivers to support veterans of all conflicts and when Katie approached us to assist her in providing a free lunch for homeless or lonely veterans in London we were very happy to help.”

November 28, 2018 at 09:11AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Airbus, Audi and Intaldesign show off flying Taxi prototype at Drone Week Amsterdam

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2RiEXbu

At Drone Week in Amsterdam Audi, Airbus and Italdesign presented for the first time their flying and driving prototype of “Pop.Up Next”.

This innovative concept for a flying taxi combines a self-driving electric car with a passenger drone.

In the first public test flight, the flight module accurately placed a passenger capsule on the ground module, which then drove from the test grounds autonomously.

As soon as the coming decade, Audi customers could use a convenient and efficient flying taxi service in large cities – in multi-modal operation, in the air and on the road. Without changing vehicles, passengers will enjoy their leisure time, relax, or work, the company has said.

Audi's board member for sourcing and IT, and president of the Audi subsidiary Italdesign, Dr. Bernd Martens said:

“Flying taxis are on the way. We at Audi are convinced of that.

“More and more people are moving to cities. And more and more people will be mobile thanks to automation. "

In future senior citizens, children, and people without a driver’s license will want to use convenient robot taxis. If we succeed in making a smart allocation of traffic between roads and airspace, people and cities can benefit in equal measure.”

To see what an on-demand service of this kind could be like, Audi is conducting tests in South America in cooperation with the Airbus subsidiary Voom. Customers book helicopter flights in Mexico City or Sao Paulo, while an Audi is at the ready for the journey to or from the landing site.

Dr. Martens continued by saying:

“Services like this help us to understand our customers’ needs better. Because in the future, flying taxis will appeal to a wide range of city dwellers.

"With Pop.Up Next we are simultaneously exploring the boundaries of what is technically possible. The next step is for a full-size prototype to fly and drive,”.

Audi is also supporting the Urban Air Mobility flying taxi project in Ingolstadt. This initiative is preparing test operations for a flying taxi at Audi’s site, and is part of a joint project of the European Union in the framework of the marketplace for the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities. This project aims to convince the public of the benefits of the new technology and answer questions concerning battery technology, regulation, certification, and infrastructure.

November 28, 2018 at 07:49AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi drivers fury at TfL brings London Bridge to a standstill

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2P5lbhQ

Furious taxi drivers took to blockading London Bridge yesterday after becoming increasingly frustrated at what is seen as Transport for London's seemingly, discriminatory road policies against the licensed London taxi industry.

Taxi pressure group, the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA), called the action in response to TfL plans to exlude taxis and cars from an Eastbound section of Tooley Street between Duke Street Hill/ London Bridge and Bermondsey Street, the exclusion will not apply to buses and cycles It is believed that this exclusion will restrict direct access to the London Bridge Hospital, and potentially create high levels of congestion and pollution on the surrounding roads, repeating the traffic chaos which occured when the same restriction was in place during the uprating of London Bridge Station. Yesterdays protest was deemed a success, and further action is planned throughout the week, as the taxi industry vents its frustration. London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, shortly after taking office, proclaimed the London taxi industry as an integral part of London's public transport system, however, TfL, as well as some borough councils, have now taken to blocking taxis from some of London's roads, thus restricting access to that same said section of public transport, ultimately inconveniencing passengers. Yesterdays protest started at 4pm, and went on for three hours, with cabbies dispersing at arpund 7pm. Unbelievably, the City of London authority lifted the Bank Junction restriction so as to relieve some of the pressure which had built up due to non-moving traffic. This in itself amplified a point as taxis are also excluded from that junction too. There was some support from the general public with Mr Delta Hotel tweeting:"Why are The Mayor and TfHell so hateful of and discriminatory towards our London Black cabs." Cheechio said on Twitter:"Big taxi protest in London Bridge, anti TfL good." Criticism came from Nicky Turner on twitter who said:"I respect taxi drivers right to protest until it takes me more than 90 minutes to get home, how about a petition next time." The protests will be continuing throughout this week as pressure mounts on TfL to engage with the industry to find a workable solution

November 27, 2018 at 03:23PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cycling charity declares war against London's Black Taxis over potential traffic restrictions

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2QgHtSr

London Cycling Campaign have put together a consultation to directly challenge London’s iconic black taxis who are up in arms about potential restrictions put on their trades ability to navigate certain roads in the city - on this occasion, Tooley Street, London Bridge. London Cycling Campaign is a membership charity and are calling for new recruits to join to help keep proposals for Tooley Street closures to stay on track. The Consultation - ‘Don’t let cabbies derail plans for Tooley Street’ highlights their desire to limit what vehicles can access the street from London Bridge, claiming the road, which ironically is paid for by road tax payers, is “dominated by buses, black taxis and loads of other motor vehicles.” This week London’s black taxi drivers are to stage daily protests on London Bridge against the proposals. If the restrictions are applied, it would mean any passengers needing access to the very busy More London Place complex will have to add, potentially, an additional 15-20 minutes on to their journey or walk.London Cycling Campaign say cab drivers “want their convenience, no matter the expense to people walking, cycling and using public transport.” The introduction to recruiting new members ends by saying: “Cabbies have a long history of opposing improvements to London’s streets, and the furious reaction to this modest scheme show they’re determined to block any and all progress.” From anyone looking in from the outside, this surely must look like a restriction of trade Vs the desire to cycle freely by those who pay zero road tax — or would I be wrong in saying that? What’s your opinion? - let us know.

November 27, 2018 at 12:57PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Court hears how Uber driver sparked terror alert chaos

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2DOLxTk

A court heard how an Uber driver sparked a terror alert after mowing Eleven people down outside the Natural History Museum.

Juma Omar, from Barking in East London, denied one count of dangerous driving when he appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday.

It is alleged that the Uber driver mounted the pavement at the junction of Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road in South Kensington at approximately 2:20pm on October 7 last year.

The incident saw pedestrians mowed down before Omar finally came to a halt after colliding with two cars.

Omar was driving a Black Toyota Prius, when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle after putting his foot on the accelerator and failed to remove his foot for around six seconds, before doing a u-turn and slamming into a crowd of people who had been trying to get out of his way.

Omar then got out of the vehicle repeatedly saying "i'm sorry" before being tackled to the ground by members of the public.

The Daily Mailreported how Prosecutor Bill McGivern explained that this was case of Omar pushing the wrong pedal and continuing to push it.

The incident resulted in the counter-terrorism unit being deployed as fears grew that a terror related incident was in progress.

Eleven people suffered injuries as a result of the incident, none of them life-threatening.

An investigation on the vehicle found that there were no mechanical issues.

The trial continues.

November 27, 2018 at 12:20AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

ICO fines Uber £385,000 over data protection failings

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2P2Clwo

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined ride sharing company Uber £385,000 for failing to protect customers’ personal information during a cyber attack.

A series of avoidable data security flaws allowed the personal details of around 2.7million UK customers to be accessed and downloaded by attackers from a cloud-based storage system operated by Uber’s US parent company. This included full names, email addresses and phone numbers. The records of almost 82,000 drivers based in the UK – which included details of journeys made and how much they were paid – were also taken during the incident in October and November 2016. The ICO investigation found ‘credential stuffing’, a process by which compromised username and password pairs are injected into websites until they are matched to an existing account, was used to gain access to Uber’s data storage. However, the customers and drivers affected were not told about the incident for more than a year. Instead, Uber paid the attackers responsible $100,000 to destroy the data they had downloaded. ICO Director of Investigations Steve Eckersley said: “This was not only a serious failure of data security on Uber’s part, but a complete disregard for the customers and drivers whose personal information was stolen. At the time, no steps were taken to inform anyone affected by the breach, or to offer help and support. That left them vulnerable.” The incident, a serious breach of principle seven of the Data Protection Act 1998, had the potential to expose the customers and drivers affected to increased risk of fraud. It came to light when an announcement, made by the company itself, was reported by the media in November 2017. Mr Eckersley added: “Paying the attackers and then keeping quiet about it afterwards was not, in our view, an appropriate response to the cyber attack. “Although there was no legal duty to report data breaches under the old legislation, Uber’s poor data protection practices and subsequent decisions and conduct were likely to have compounded the distress of those affected.” The data protection authority for the Netherlands, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, has also issued a fine to Uber today under its own pre-GDPR legislation. The Dutch regulator was the lead member of an international task force which included the ICO and which co-operated in investigating the effects of the incident in their respective jurisdictions.

November 27, 2018 at 10:14AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Addison Lee reveal how London self-driving trials will see launch of autonomous vehicle service by 2021

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2BzSENF

Addison Lee Group has been selected to lead a £15 million UK government-backed consortium to launch autonomous vehicle services in London by 2021.

The consortium, which also includes Oxbotica, DG Cities, Nominet and Immense Simulations, has won funding last week from the government’s Connected and Autonomous Vehicle 4 (CAV4) programme to introduce 15 autonomous vehicles in the capital from 2021, designed to support areas which are poorly served by existing public transport. The project will build on the MERGE research exercise carried out by a number of the consortium members and follows Addison Lee’s recent partnership announcement with Oxbotica and its AV mapping exercise in Canary Wharf. Paul McCabe, Addison Lee Group’s Corporate Development Director said: ‘The Addison Lee-led consortium will help quickly realise many of the benefits we envisage in bringing autonomous vehicles onto the streets of London – better mobility for its’ people, enhanced public transport, cleaner air and safer streets.’What does the trial involve? The consortium will roll out four AV pilots using 15 autonomous vehicles. Designed to complement existing public transport, the service will be app-based, on demand and based on ride-sharing. The vehicles will be low-emission, designed with the pedestrian in mind and priced at a level to generate demand without impacting other public transport. With its end-to-end service management and experience of completing 25,000 journeys a day in London, Addison Lee will provide the service wrapper for the project.

As the UKs leading self-driving vehicle software company, Oxbotica’s technology will underpin the consortium, while DG Cities will provide the urban blueprint for the scheme. Immense Simulations will take the data from the pilot and model impact on other London boroughs and other UK cities and Nominet will provide cyber-security expertise to the platform. Work on the project will begin immediately.

November 27, 2018 at 09:40AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Another right turn ban for vehicles as work begins to transform Old Street roundabout

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2DXyH63

Transport for London and Islington and Hackney Councils have started work at Old Street to remove the “outdated” 1960s roundabout and create a transformed environment that is safer for cycling and walking. The work will see the northwest arm of the roundabout close permanently to all traffic, creating a major new public space with better walking and cycling access to Old Street station. Traffic will operate two-way through the redesigned junction, with fully segregated cycle lanes and cycle-only traffic signals around the re-designed junction.

Vehicles will no longer be able to turn right from Old Street into City Road travelling eastbound.TfL say the works will significantly reduce danger for cyclists and other vulnerable road users and enable new people to cycle who were previously put off by the roundabout. Some of the subways around Old Street will also be closed and replaced with new surface-level pedestrian crossings, making journeys in the area quicker and easier for people walking.

Preparation work on the roundabout and nearby roads has now started, with utility providers such as Thames Water and other contractors working at the site.

In August, the Mayor announced he wanted to see the project brought forward and begun this year. TfL have worked closely with the councils and project contractors to ensure the improvements can be completed as quickly as possible, and this includes agreeing to extended working hours to reduce the overall duration of the work. The transformation is expected to be complete by the end of 2020 and residents and visitors are advised to visit tfl.gov.uk/old-street-roundabout for more information about changes to travel during the work. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan – “I announced over the summer that I wanted to see improvements at Old Street brought forward, and I’m delighted that work to transform the junction has now begun. Old Street is one of the busiest junctions in London, but is currently an outdated roundabout that needs to be made safer for the thousands of people who pass through it every day. “New segregated cycle lanes will transform safety for cyclists, and new pedestrian crossings and a new public space will make Old Street cleaner, safer and more pleasant for everyone spending time in the area. “Every death or serious injury on London’s roads is one too many, and the improvements at Old Street are part of our ambitious plans to improve road safety all across London.” Following TfL’s recently completed improvement work at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout in Redbridge, TfL has improved 27 junctions across the capital in recent years to help achieve Vision Zero and reduce danger to people walking and cycling. Work also continues to transform Highbury Corner, another outdated roundabout. New paving has been installed outside Highbury & Islington station and a new direct crossing has opened. Work at the junction will be complete by summer 2019.

November 27, 2018 at 02:17AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Coventry Cabbies Charged Up By Move to Electric Vehicles

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2TP6Uco

Coventry’s cab drivers are embracing the transition to electric vehicles following the launch of an EV trial scheme two months ago according to LEVC.

Since the start of the Go Electric Taxi pilot in September, places on the scheme have been oversubscribed and the scheme is fully booked until mid-February next year. The scheme – which has been funded by a grant from the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit and includes a £2500 incentive package for the first 60 electric taxis – has seen a significant jump in the number of cab drivers placing orders. This means that at the start of 2019, there will be at least 15 electric taxis on the city’s streets – with 9 orders placed following the launch of the scheme. 18 drivers have so far taken part in the try before you buy scheme. Each of these vehicles reduces a driver’s carbon footprint by 7 tonnes every year and has a significant air quality benefit – especially as many drivers are stepping out of older diesel vehicles. However, there isn’t just a benefit for the environment – with drivers reporting they are now spending less than £10 a day on fuel, compared with around £30 a day in their current diesel vehicle. This in part due to the dedicated ESB/Siemens rapid charging points that have been rolled out by the City Council. A number of recent studies have also shown other driver benefits – and have shown that EV drivers are less stressed and more focused than those behind the wheel of a diesel vehicle. Likewise, the newer vehicles come with advanced air conditioning systems which mean that drivers are better protected from external air pollution. Kartar Sabraiwal, was the first driver to benefit from the scheme when it was first launched. He has now had his electric taxi for three months and has been covering around 70 to 100 miles a day in the taxi. “It’s been fantastic,” Mr Sabraiwal said: “All my passengers much prefer the new taxi – saying that the panoramic roof and more spacious interior make them want to use black cabs more often. In addition, I’m seeing a fuel saving of around £400 a month from having made the switch.” All of trial participants surveyed have said that all of passengers loved the improved space and comfort of the new vehicle. This news comes at a time when Coventry City Council is considering tightening up emission standards in a bid to tackle poor local air quality – promising a full electric fleet by 2024. Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC said: “We have been delighted by the response of Coventry taxi drivers to the Go Electric Taxi scheme. If the response is anything like the rest of the UK, then the enthusiasm will only grow. Our new taxi makes the black cab trade more attractive to passengers and improves the trade’s competitiveness in the long-run.” All LEVC TXs are eligible for the UK Government’s plug-in taxi grant – which is guaranteed until the end of 2020.

November 27, 2018 at 01:34AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

How can taxi drivers improve their security whilst working

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2P3xQBU

Driving a taxi is a solitary existence, you are very much reliant on your own self, and in an extremely vulnerable position, with nobody to back you up or protect you. This leaves taxi drivers open to robberies and attacks.

With the increasing danger of being robbed or attacked when driving a taxi, there are some very simple procedures which can make cabbies less of a target. For many cabbies, this article will be like teaching them how to suck eggs, but we all let our guard down at some point and can end up falling victim to unscrupulous ne'er-do-wells, intent on causing harm and distress. So how can drivers protect themselves? The first port of call is the blindingly obvious, door-locks. Keeping the front doors locked at all times, unless having to leave the vehicle to assist a passenger, should be second nature. Making sure the door locks in the front are fully functioning is also of paramount importance, again many drivers don't always realise that the front door locks have failed, especially on rental vehicles, so it's always worth checking. Bringing the minimum amount of paraphernalia out to work with you is always wise. The less a driver takes to work, the less there is to steal. Does anybody really need a bag chock full of goodies in the vehicle with them?

This also applies to the contents of a wallet. Does any driver really need to come to work with a wallet brimming with cards or cash, or can a driver function with the bare minimum in that wallet? Securing your work bag is important, if it cannot go into the boot of the vehicle then a simple Caribinier, securing the bag to the bulkhead of the vehicle can be a very useful deterrent. Mobile phones and tablets are part of every taxi drivers arsenal in the quest to earn a living. Whilst these articles do have to be on display to some degree, nobody has to make it easy for any would-be thief. Simply moving the mobile phone holder from the side of the windscreen, to the centre of the screen or dashboard makes it extremely awkward for somebody to steal the phone, it's not fool-proof, but it can make a thief think twice. Splitting money off into different areas of the cab can certainly reduce losses incurred, also having a second bag with nothing but some loose change and paper inside is always useful. With the proliferation of gangs attacking cabbies, it is always a sensible precaution to leave a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front so as to be able to escape from potential trouble. Ultimately, whether a taxi gets damaged or not is irrelevant, getting yourself out of harms way is the priority. Leaving the cab is a contentious issue, if somebody needs assistance then you are in a no win situation, however locking ones doors upon leaving the cab can be a real deterrent to an opportunist thief When in doubt, trust your gut. If something looks as though it could be an issue, simply drive on. No amount of money is worth putting oneself in danger. There is no compulsion for a taxi driver to stop for anybody, regardless of the status of the for hire light, and there is no compulsion for a driver to accept a hiring when stationary but in transit, such as non-moving traffic or traffic lights. Therefore if somebody looks like trouble then drive on, a taxi drivers must always feel safe. Finally, report every single incident, regaedless of how innoccuous. The more imcidents that are reported, the more chance there is of getting action taken to help protect drivers. All taxi drivers have the right to work free from fear of attack and abuse, in the same way that bus drivers, tube workers and rail workers have that right. Ultimately, apply common sense, be careful and keep the doors locked.

November 26, 2018 at 03:49PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Drivers stage more protests over the financial squeeze caused by operators

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2r8h4rr

Private Hire drivers in Milton Keynes have staged yet another strike this morning in protest against increased rent charges as well as a 20p commission added on top of normal fares. Drivers submitted a petition to Milton Keynes Council Office in Bleak Hall to demonstrate their disapproval, the MKCitizen first reported. Demonstrations also took place outside the offices of operators Speedline and Skyline who have increased rent for drivers and added additional commissions.Taxipoint reported at the start of November a similar strike staged by the same private hire drivers in MK who were demanding a rise in the minimum fare price. Drivers wanted to base rate to rise to £5 from £3.20. They claim that the increased cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance and vehicle licensing has made a dent in their profits therefore are in need of the fare increase.

November 26, 2018 at 02:56PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT