Improving the way we work?
Although we have modern equipment in our cabs, we are still "old fashioned" in some ways. Bringing us up-to-date would not be difficult and I would like to suggest some ideas that could help us do that and provide an even better service.
   * Increase ‘soon to clear’ to 20 or even 25 minutes. Modern traffic is too heavy for just 15 minutes.
   * ‘Temporary off’ also increased to 20 or 25 minutes. Parking for toilet / tea breaks is very difficult nowadays.
   *All Call Takers should be told to explain that passengers asking to be picked up from places such as Brent Cross, Hatton Cross or Kings Cross must wait at the head of the taxi rank and not in a car park, back entrance or loading bay where we can never find them.
   *When passengers order a cab from a bar, restaurant or club etc, can Call Takers ask them to let the reception know that they are expecting a taxi.
   I believe all the above will make the best service even better.
Sid Nathan (K88)

And more suggestions…
I asked Brian Rice some time ago why we can’t STC into the same zone twice? I often misjudge the time it’s going to take to do a job due to unforeseen circumstances and then time out on my STC. I'm still heading to the same zone and want to be available for work, but I’m then going to the back of the queue again. So what is the problem? Is there some unfair advantage / potential for skulduggery that I’m missing here?
   I also made the point last year about the quality of receipt paper we are using. If you cannot get your receipts into an underground bunker at -30C within minutes of printing them, they degrade. Is the paper designed specifically to do this or is it the result of having a massive stock of ‘inferior’ paper? If it is the former, what is the reasoning behind it?
Mark Sherlock (W41)
   Allan Evans replies: Mark, I can understand that with traffic conditions as they are, it is sometimes easy to misjudge the ‘soon to clear’ facility. The present system has been in place since the introduction of the date despatch system and the time parameters were initially set in conjunction with the lead-in times in Central London. A fifteen minute period would normally coincide with the lead-in time on a pre-booked trip. I would imagine that if you exceed the time on the original STC by a small period, your suggestion would not give you any more advantage than actually clearing the trip and booking back into the original zone that you were travelling to. In both cases you will still be last in the queue. Drivers do not always necessarily STC into the zone that they are travelling to, they may STC into a back up zone which they feel is busier.
   In answer to your second point, the paper we use in the printer is environmentally friendly bio-degradable which is thin, while the ink is water based which means that if the paper is open to direct heat or sunlight, it will eventually discolour. Although the ink is light fast, it will fade after a period of time. May I suggest that you keep the receipts in the black plastic account book folder in a cool and darkened area and you will not then have any problems for the six month period that you are advised to keep them. The folders are readily available at Brunswick House.

Where am I?
Last night whilst booked into E14, I accepted a credit ride with the pick-up address as Canada Square. I promptly sent a ‘delay advise’ message and within seconds the job was scrubbed. When I subsequently pressed ‘no trip’ and checked the ‘original zone’ box, I then found that not only was I booked into E14 - but also E14C…and I was nowhere near the confines of the Canary Wharf security cordon! After a quick call to the call centre to explain what had happened, I booked off of E14C but remained booked into E14.
   My point is this… other drivers (should the same scenario arise) may be unaware that the computer has booked them on to a physical rank and may be put on complaint despite doing nothing wrong at all!
Robert Richland (N94)
   Allan Evans replies: Robert, after checking the system loggers, the Credit Card trip that you accepted was offered from E14C - as all card and cash trips are.  Although you were still in E14 when you cleared the scrub, you pressed the ‘trip zone’ box rather than ‘original zone’ box, which actually gave you back a queue position in both E14C and E14. If you in future press the original zone, you will only be given a queue position in the zone that you are in and not the trip zone, which would be E14 only.

Cheap and sweaty?
How condescending of Allen Togwell to relate his hygiene habits to we, the lesser mortals of Dial-a-Cab, the ones who pay his wages thus enabling him to pursue the prestigious role of Marketing Manager! How nice to enlighten us on cheap non-iron clothing! The nylon / polyester combination he recommends is guaranteed to encourage perspiration and therefore sweat stains. Cotton is the best fabric for hot conditions. I would have thought the years Mr T spent in Ladies Fashion might have enabled some degree of expertise in natural materials and their suitability and application. Or was his forte in ladies underwear! His article shows just how out of touch he is with the Dial-a-Cab work force, further proof of my assertion that all Board members - except the chairman - need to get out on a cab occasionally and into the real world of a working taxi driver! Jack Taylor did…
   For starters, just where are you gonna park whist you tend to your ablutions? It's hard enough to find a place to stop and pee without a warden sticking a ticket on one’s cab. On a hotel rank? No way in today's climate of undercover tout catchers waiting in the bushes for a driver to leave his cab unattended. Get updated with our trials and tribulations Mr T and come down off your pompous horse in your ivory tower and get your arse on a (hot) cab seat now and again.
David Kupler (Y74) shorts/ sandals wearer extraordinaire…!
Allen Togwell replies:
   What is it, David, that fuels your paranoia about Board members working their cabs? Yes of course Jack Taylor did, a) because his role as PRO didn’t warrant being in the office for any length of time b) the remuneration was akin to working for charity and c) our turnover was barely £2m and not the £45m it is today. In your previous letter you state you object to any client dictating what you should wear. In actual fact, the client in question was stipulating what the driver undertaking their work should NOT wear. As for my not being in the real world, David, in that real world a client spending millions of pounds for an adequate taxi service has every right to stipulate anything they like. Hence the reason far too much work is being forced into minicabs rather than using drivers such as yourself, who arrogantly believe that because you have a badge, it gives you the God-given right to demand everything that suits you and not the client. And that is the very attitude that precipitated the arrival of minicabs in the first place! Had you possessed an ounce of business acumen, you would pre-empt the needs of our customers as well as the threat of the competition and make every effort to meet those needs. And yes, including having a wash and freshen up when nature calls, assuming you do use the correct establishment for that purpose. I wonder, David, what your attitude would be had you taken a short busman’s holiday and booked a cab to take family and friends on a tour of London and the driver’s appearance was a disgrace. Would you accept it as his right and make no comment? I don’t think so.
   Finally your assumption was correct. I did once manufacture both ladies underwear and swimwear during the 60’s at the height of ‘flower power’. I had seven 18yr old mannequins working for me, but it bored me stiff so I changed to manufacturing cotton suits for an airline company, so yes I do understand the benefits of using cotton. But it is also, I think, a bit above your price range and it creases easily, so not adequate for sitting in a cab all day.

Albert Bridge
Is there any driver out there who has personally received a warning or fine for driving a taxi over Albert Bridge? There are several anecdotal stories about

Thank you London
As a disabled tourist from Fort William in the northwest Highlands of Scotland who lives within 7 miles of Ben Nevis and who visited London on 18 – 19 July, I would just like to say that I was most impressed with the level of professional assistance and courteous manner that all PCO taxi drivers that I came into contact with showed me in carrying out their duties in their assistance to help me in and out of their taxis. It really goes to show how not only does it enhance visitors and local population friendly attitude of London and Londoners, but also speaks volumes on the day-to-day attitudes towards others. As a member of our local Disability Access Panel in Fort William, that meant a lot to me during my short visit to the capital.
   I would especially like to thank the taxi driver who walked me across the road into the entrance of Kings Cross Station due to the reconstruction works that were being carried out nearby.
Mr N.T.Kellar
   Fort William, Scotland
The above letter was passed on to Call Sign by the PCO …Ed

Have a Spanish Archer!
I have noticed recently the increase of work coming from the scabs. The early hours of Monday morning seems to be the peak demand for our services, with the majority of jobs before 6am having a ‘T’ attribute. With the scabs acquiring more and more work, but unable to meet demand as they are unable to attract drivers who pass PCO requirements, I would like to ask a question. With the Christmas partying season not far away, our services will be in great demand, so why put our accounts in jeopardy and help the scabs keep theirs by covering their work? I say give them the Spanish Archer just prior to the peak demand!
   Recently during the mid-morning rush, some jobs have become non-rejectable because the customer is a VIP - a good idea when the VIP may have the power to close the account, but I was amused recently when offered one with a ‘T’ attribute?  How can someone who prefers scabs before us be classed as a VIP?
Barry Spear (Y16)
   Brian Rice replies: This is a question I have answered several times in the past, but it is still as pertinent today as it was then. I understand your concern, Barry, and I happen to agree with you, however, I cannot let my heart rule my head when running a commercial enterprise such as DaC. What would you do if a company offered to supply you all through the year, but when things become very busy before Christmas, they withdrew their service to you and only agreed to service you again in the New Year? I suggest you would not retain their services for very long and we are in exactly the same position with our taxi competitors waiting in the wings only too ready to service these 'T' accounts throughout the year - that is my dilemma! You complete a substantial amount of account work and have all available attributes, consequently you are prepared to do anything, which is to be commended.  But we introduced the 'T' attribute for members that do not wish to be considered for the car work, however there are many members such as yourself that do wish to do this work. Consequently I believe everyone wins. 
   Regarding our coverage in the 'run up' to Christmas, with the size of fleet we have at the moment (the largest in Central London), we should be able to demolish all work that is despatched, but we won't because the average member only does 20% of his / her work off the radio - so we have ample supply. 
   Regarding the VIP with the 'T' attribute; this probably happened because there is a large account where we are the sole taxi supplier, however all the work is distributed through that car company’s system. As a consequence, if the VIP requires a taxi, he only has a choice of one (us) so he becomes a VIP on a 'T' attribute, solely because he / she has some clout within the company. 
   Finally Barry, as you have no doubt gathered, I do have some sympathy with your letter, but I really don’t believe I should change anything. That should be the member’s choice as to whether he / she covers the trip or not, always bearing in mind that the average 'T' attribute trip is in excess of £30.

Tom Whitbread article
I would like to protest at the outrageous article that you allowed to go in the September issue of Call Sign under "Party political to broadcast on behalf of the Compliance Officer!" 
   I think the silence of the Editor who allowed this rant from a Board member to appear in Call Sign speaks volumes. This is so as you never criticise any Board input and this brings into sharp focus that the editorship of Call Sign is a patronage position given by the Board. This is evidenced by the fact you allow this rant, yet censor letters written by members that criticise management decisions (as I know to my cost as you would not print a previous letter of mine regarding Brian being a Director of  the TLPA.
   I think it would be safe to say that Tom Whitbread’s interpretation of immigrant as equals criminal and foreigner as equals rapist and murderer, he is not speaking of an ethnic group that is close to his own. For when he says;
   "When a foreigner commits a murder, they plead mentally unstable and get sent to a cushy hospital or let off a custodial sentence. If they are that mad, how did they negotiate getting from their country to the land of milk and honey... the British Isles?"
   He is not using foreign to mean anyone outside of his own ethnic grouping (ie white British), as white French, white German would hardly need to negotiate from their poor-off country to a "land of milk and honey."
   Also when he alludes to the feigning madness criminal foreigner, this also betrays his notion of immigrant / foreigner. Again I would say it would be safe to say he is talking of an ethnic mix that is not his own and an allusion to schizophrenia and association with being black.*
   I am sure consequence will follower from this article, as many times we have read a journalist reporting on a ‘right wing, hang and flog em, foreign scum cabbie’. For the most part this could be countered as an attempt at stereotyping using an unknown and unverifiable source material and says more about the journalist than the mythical unknown cabbie. But what we have now is a Board member putting such thoughts to print for all and sundry to read and to quote. I'm sure this rant will find its way to Transport for London (probably has already) and bring a whole load of criticism onto our heads. Probably more than criticism may well follow.
   I think this article is very damaging to DaC and I think Mr Whitbread ought to resign the Board with immediate effect.
   *"Studies seeking to explain the over-representation of black people in secure hospital and community forensic psychiatric settings have not moved beyond explaining this on the basis of the alleged epidemic of schizophrenia. The connection with the criminal justice system is based on an alleged high incidence of violent crime in blacks."
   Source; NHS National Programme on Forensic Mental Health Research and Development.
Maurice Haben (G17)
   Maurice, your letter shows disturbing racial overtones. Tom doesn't mention colour yet you base your letter on the assumption that he means black. What right do you have to make that assumption because you have dug up some NHS thesis from the Internet? Since when was the NHS the know-all of the world?
   For the benefit of Call Sign readers, the letter from Maurice Haben that I refused to publish some months ago was one of just four unpublished letters in my 9+ years in this hot seat. One of the reasons I didn't publish it was Mr Haben’s inferences about the TLPA and in my view the possibility of them being libellous. Tom’s views may not have been to everyone’s liking, but there was nothing libellous about them.
   As for Mr Haben’s letter of this issue, I had originally decided not to publish

And Stan on Tom Whitbread!
Even though Tom Whitbread is an Arsenal supporter, I never realised that he could be such a putz as to withdraw money from a cash machine in Mare Street, Hackney! To be honest, I wouldn’t attempt to do such a thing even if accompanied by 6 armed guards! Only recently someone asked me to take them to Peckham. I told him it was impossible because no one had yet made it there.
   As for Richard Potter (T51), I’d like to ask him what it’s like in Zagora, the capital of planet Zog? Because when he states that the trade should unite, it sounds as though he doesn’t belong to this world. When the day dawns on a united cab trade, Iraq will be democratic, the USA Communist and Spurs will win the championship! He will have to come up with a less worn out cliché than "united we stand, divided we fall" because we’ve been hearing that one for ages.  The truth is that 15,000 individualistic cabbies in the main don’t care about anything but themselves. We all did the Knowledge on our own and go out to work unaccompanied, with the only thought in mind being how much we can earn.  The reality is that divided, we stand on our own feet and if one day we unite, it will be as a last desperate measure to save our trade.
Stanley Frankel (K46)
   Thank you Stanley. Speaking of Planet Zog, what was it like? …Ed

Jim Warren
Our thanks for everything you have done for us in Call Sign. It meant such a lot to us to see Brian Rice, Tom Whitbread and you at his funeral. Jim would have been so proud to see not just those three, but also all those lovely DaC staff and drivers who also turned up at his funeral. He thought such a lot of the company and you can see why.
   Joan Warren, together with Carol, Sue and Rosina
London N1

Jean Martin
I am the brother of Roy Martin (R42) and was really touched by the article in September’s issue of Call Sign regarding Roy's wife Jean who sadly died on 12th August. Her letter to you in response to the flowers sent to her by Dial-a-Cab was an indication of her courage in the face of such suffering and your comments were very much appreciated by Roy and his family.
   In these circumstances, I wonder if it would be possible for you to let me have a copy of September's Call Sign?
Terry Martin
Hartley, Kent
   You should have received the copy by now. Jean’s letter to DaC will forever be deservedly available to read in the on-line version …Ed

Strand U-turns
I’d just like to let our drivers know that I have had my PCN cancelled by Westminster council for doing a u-turn outside Charing Cross Stn on 11 May this year. I had the same original response from Westminster as Dave Spencer (V39) wrote about in the September Call Sign. I hope this gives some help to other drivers in a similar situation.
Michael Hegarty (A22)
   Well done Mike. Dave Spencer received 2 similar PCNs for doing u-turns and was told that the council received neither of his appeals. This seems to be an ongoing problem with some councils and suggests that regardless of the extra cost, all PCN dealings with councils should be done using the recorded delivery or even registered post services…Ed

Why I use Power Pill…
Power Pill? Economic pills? When I first read about Power Pill in Call Sign, it didn’t attract me at all. But later as I read in Call Sign that DaC drivers were offered 2 trial packs free of charge in return for filling in a form, I thought I’d have a go and to my surprise I was shocked at the results! Firstly, my fuel consumption has gone down, secondly I now have a much smoother running engine and thirdly, the cab’s pulling power has improved greatly. Thanks Alan for arranging the privilege for DaC drivers.
   To the 1600 or so drivers who didn’t have a go – give Power Pill a try now and to save you the bother of looking up their telephone number, try this one: 0845 130 8077 or try www.powerpilluk.com.
   You will be treated very nicely and if they are still testing, then you will get some free pills to try. Then it’s up to you to see the difference as I did.
   Thanks again to Alan…
Sid Nathan (K88)
   An article in this issue seems to give conclusive proof that Power Pill works …Ed

Accident
I would like to thank all the drivers that came to my assistance following my accident in Aspen Way on 13 September. You will prove to be valuable witnesses. After the other driver jumped a red light, my taxi was hit and spun round sustaining major damage. My passenger and I were very lucky to walk away and our injuries thankfully are not life threatening. It’s refreshing to see some drivers still retain the spirit of a ‘gentlemen's circuit’.
Colin Jenkins (Y22)

Lou Gitlin
I noticed in the July Call Sign that one of my favourite dispatchers is retiring. Lou Gitlin, our Saturday afternoon "voice" despatcher, would carry us through the hours up to 11.30pm and it was amazing just how quickly that time would go with his wonderful humour and of course the football results that he absolutely hated giving. Time just whizzed by!
   However, more than that, he was a great motivator. I can only speak personally, but he gave me loads of encouragement in order that I would not be shy in coming in for work. Of course he would do the same for everybody, but he did have the knack of making you feel special and of course we did our best to cover whatever we could. He was a unique asset to our Society and will be greatly missed by myself and I'm sure by many other drivers. I will always know him as Uncle Lou and thank him for helping me get used to working with a radio. Yes, Saturdays were a great day to work and you got home refreshed after a day spent with Uncles Lou and Ivor…
Adrian Landau (T14)
   Adrian, you must be much older than you look! For those who don’t know, Lou Gitlin first started dispatching part-time at ODRTS in 1958 and from 1961, both he and Ivor Belkin ran the Saturday dispatching show between them for an astonishing 45 years including both being at DaC on the day we changed from voice to data. Ivor is still here …Ed

Cabot Square and fireworks
I was recently chatting to a security guard at Cabot Square about the new checks they were carrying out for traces of explosives and I asked him – bearing in mind that 5 November is just around the corner - what would be the result if someone coming through the checkpoint had recently come into contact with fireworks? His answer surprised me and I thought I’d pass it on to Call Sign readers. If they find the smallest trace of explosive – and that’s what is inside fireworks – they will strip the cab down and you could be regarded as a possible threat until the all clear is given to your taxi! So if you are planning to let off fireworks on Guy Fawkes night and then going off to work, you could be carrying explosive traces on you and unbeknowingly transferring them to your cab!
Gary Johnson (P28)

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