Hail and Ride Trips
I have spoken with many drivers recently regarding the reason why we are not permitted to accept hail and ride trips on behalf of the London TaxiCard Scheme. Brian Rice and myself have held a meeting with the All-London Government (ALG) and we were informed that the primary reason why we are not allowed to take these type of trips is because we cannot prove to the auditors of the scheme that every hail and ride journey carried out is a valid trip.
   It would appear that in the past, it came to light that one driver was processing trips without the correct card being present. Such an incident has unfortunately resulted in drivers trust coming into question. Such actions are clearly fraudulent and which could put one's livelihood in jeopardy, not to mention the lost trips of the card user.
   However, all is not lost so far as Dial-a-Cab is concerned. Debbie Carter of our software team, has been made aware of the problem and tells me that with some alterations in our despatching system, a report can be generated to show whether any card trip taken by the driver is swiped or manually entered.

 As soon as this is done and the changes are tested and ALG are satisfied with our reporting, I can see no reason why in the early part of the new year we should not be taking hail and ride TaxiCard journeys on behalf of the London wide scheme again.

Who Is The Mystery Traveller!
Another important issue that has been brought to our attention was the introduction by Transport for London (TfL) of the 'mystery traveller'. You may have read about them in the letter sent to drivers by Mayor Ken 
Livingstone last year, but we have now been asked to make drivers aware that these individuals could be out on the streets in the next few weeks - if indeed they are not out there already. It could also be quite likely that the 'mystery traveller' will be a disabled individual rather than an able bodied person. We were 

also told that any driver who was
caught not carrying out his duties correctly, would first be reported to the PCO and then to the driver's radio circuit.
I would say that since the disability discrimination act was amended, drivers must be even more diligent of the service they provide to the disabled. 
I believe the Mayor's decision to give us an increase in the fare tariff and because he has said that he would like to allocate an additional sum of money to the disability transport schemes within London, means that serious monitoring is in place to ensure his reasons for making these decisions are indeed justified.
   The 'mystery traveller' is serious stuff; please beware of the passengers you are picking up off the street and also via the radio.  I'm sure that this is not the first time the taxi trade would have experienced a similar situation and it certainly won't be the last.  However, if you continue to give the courteous service to all customers that you always have done, it will not be an issue with the Society.
   Finally, may I wish you all the Happiest of New Years...

Keith Cain