Taxi Driver protests against legislation.

Were you affected by the taxi driver protest and do you know the reasons behind the two protests here joining in with National protests today by hundreds of taxi drivers?

Had no idea about it, and being on a bike I wasn't affected one jot

Taxi drivers moaning about deregulation and uber, they don't moan about Sheffield taxi drivers on city cars working in Rotherham or Barnsley but moan about drivers from other towns working in Sheffield.

Edited March 1, 2017 by mafya

We should protest about very bad driving by most taxi drivers.

Taxi drivers moaning about deregulation and uber, they don't moan about Sheffield duty taxi drivers working in Rotherham or Barnsley but moan about drivers from other towns working in Sheffield.

This is a national issue of legislation allowing a loophole which is being abused by some companies. The taxi drivers moaning about deregulation and uber are doing so because uber has literally bussed drivers to London to obtain TFL licenses to then work in Sheffield 50 at a time. This has resulted in around 700 drivers working here without any accountability to the local regulatory council. The removal of the loophole would stop all cross border hiring for all, including those Sheffield drivers who don't moan about working in Barnsley as you put it. It would also make the public much safer by drivers being accountable to the local authority of the area they work in. Leeds, Bradford Manchester Bristol Birmingham are all suffering with this issue and protest was part of a Mational campaign and not just Sheffield. Irony of it is that those at the protest are able to criticise it

Edited February 28, 2017 by SheffTF

The press release I saw said that it was in protest at drivers who are licenced by one local authority being able to work in another, which wasn't legal before the Deregulation Act. Some authorities are less stringent in vetting others and the drivers claim that it is a public safety issue and they want the government to legislate to close the loophole. It didn't mention anything about Uber or wanting to repeal the Deregulation Act.

The press release I saw said that it was in protest at drivers who are licenced by one local authority being able to work in another, which wasn't legal before the Deregulation Act. Some authorities are less stringent in vetting others and the drivers claim that it is a public safety issue and they want the government to legislate to close the loophole. It didn't mention anything about Uber or wanting to repeal the Deregulation Act.

Precisely that is the main reason but Uber's name gets brought in for organising systematic circumventing of the local regulations. Main point is that if the loophole wasn't there then no one would be exploiting it. Only the Government can amend the legislation but are passing the buck onto the councils who can't regulate or challenge the systematic abuse of those rules. Hence the protest to highlight the issue.

Manchester has a problem with a certain local authority (rochdale) where there are numerous uninsured, untaxed, unMOTd vehicles picking up in the city centre. Manchester council say they can do nothing and rely on police, who understandably have other priorities on busy nights.

 

In Stockport even a private hire driver needs to pass a difficult local knowledge test. Other authorities are basically selling licenses to anyone who wants one, I guess to generate income.

Precisely that is the main reason but Uber's name gets brought in for organising systematic circumventing of the local regulations. Main point is that if the loophole wasn't there then no one would be exploiting it. Only the Government can amend the legislation but are passing the buck onto the councils who can't regulate or challenge the systematic abuse of those rules. Hence the protest to highlight the issue.

 

Thanks, that helps to clarify. Can you tell us what good vetting by local councils is like and what poor vetting is like?

Can you tell us what good vetting by local councils is like and what poor vetting is like?

All council's are tasked by central Government to regulate their own area. Most do a DBS check now although it wasn't the case before, some did some didn't. Government don't do the advanced driving test but have asked council's to arrange their own, so some do and some rural councils don't. Similarly most Cities have local knowledge test as well as a requirement for basic certificate in literacy and numeracy, Sheffield has but many rural councils don't. Many rural councils areas are so small that they don't test the cars apart from a basic MOT and not thebdrivers for local knowledge at all so making it much easier to pay a fee and get a licence, to then go to larger Cities to work. Following the sat nav all the time is not the safest way to travel. The difference between requirements of Wolverhampton and London's TFL to issue a licence compared to Sheffield is huge and that is why many choose to go there to obtain licenses.

Taxi drivers in Sheffield do what they want anyway...

Taxi drivers in Sheffield do what they want anyway...

 

That maybe so but speeding, erratic and dangerous driving, sudden lane changes and turning without signalling is not a cause for concern surely!