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For the past two months, we have been upgrading
our taxis as they come into Roman Way for the later version of
our data system and for adding extra channels to their radio.
But it is not until drivers have used their terminals in every
conceivable way that we can test them to see if there are any
faults.
This has been happening and the programmers are addressing any
faults that have occurred with the help of DaC’s IT manager John
Bankes and Dana from Roman Way. We are also addressing the
problems with signals, although some of these problems are not
down to us as a company. All radio and mobile phone users are
experiencing similar problems.
Some drivers have asked Board members why do we not go completely
over to the GPRS phone network? Well just think back; when was
the last time you got cut-off in mid-sentence whilst on your
mobile phone? Now if that happened just as you were trying to
accept a good job, you’d come into the office and call us the
biggest pillocks on God’s earth to have switched away from our
private circuits! Add the fact that putting all our taxis onto
the phone network would cost a fortune and how would we pay for
it? For a start, up would go subscriptions. This would not be
something that many drivers would take lightly, they’d be
screaming to leave them on the private network that we own.
There is also another aspect that many drivers decide not to
mention when complaining about the standard of their computer
equipment - the dirt, filth and rubbish that is heaped onto the
equipment in their taxi! It’s sometimes disgusting that the
fitters have to work in such filth. Rubbish consisting of old
food, sweet wrappers and personal luggage that is heaped on top
of the equipment, can cause it to overheat and malfunction.
Some of the problems that you as a driver experience are of your
own making, not allowing a proper air flow around the equipment
or a leaky cab with water dropping on the black box. When
cleaning the inside of the driver’s compartment, some move the
wires so that they lay on the slider track under the driver’s
seat, but when they then move the seat, the wires are cut
through and these cables cost up to £200.
Lower subscription rate
We have drivers who come to the Roman Way fitting bay with no
CCC sticker in the front window, but if you are claiming the
lower subscription then you are breaking the rules. To claim
that lower subscription, you must have both front doors complete
with logo, the CCC yellow sticker in the windscreen and the
notice on your partition window informing passengers that you
take credit cards.
If you come into the depot with any of the above missing, you will
be asked to replace them. Then if you are spotted again with the
stickers missing, the BoM will increase your subs to the higher
amount. Why should there be a small minority in our Society who
think they are better than all the other drivers that abide by
the rules of the Society? These are the usual band of drivers
who are not the smartest in their dress and who could be ‘faces’
at the airport. They are the ones who hang around hotels and are
willing to hand over their cash for a job to the fliers, then
complain about the regular account clients of Dial-a-Cab.
Because of their greed, they cannot see the greater picture and
how to plan and retain the work so that their livelihood is set
for many years to come. |
TOM’S ROMAN WAY HAPPENINGS…
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So if a fitter points out that your
signage is incorrect, he will only be fulfilling the duties that
have been set out for him by the Board. So do not shout and
scream at him, if you were not trying to cheat, the conversation
would not be occurring.
Roman Way quieter times…
During the early part of the morning - usually before midday -
Roman Way tends to be quiet. Then after the morning drivers have
completed their work, they decide to come in on their way home.
There’s no problem with this, but it does cause a bit of a
queue, so if you don’t mind waiting, then that’s ok. But if you
would like to have a quick turnaround, then please come along
during the quiet hours.
As you may have heard, we have been giving out driver’s Christmas
gifts - a reversible fleece jacket - since the beginning of
November. We have restricted the distribution to the fitting
depot, this way only the correct drivers get the jackets and the
correct size as we get you to try them on before leaving. During
December, we will try and accommodate night drivers who can’t
get to Roman Way by sending their coats down to East Road if
they request it.
We also hope you are finding the changes we have made to the depot
make your stay a more pleasant one.
Mr Livingstone, buses and cyclists…
I sat on a 38 bendy bus from Dalston to Shaftsbury Avenue
recently, using my Freedom Pass, courtesy of Ken Livingstone.
Sitting at the front of the bus, I had a clear view of the
traffic and traffic lights. To say that my bowels were going to
be in an uproar would be an understatement!
As we got to within 3 yards of the ATS, the lights were red. But
did the driver apply the brakes? Not on your life! We just
carried on straight through the junction - all 54 feet of public
transport bendy bus carrying a full cargo of passengers. It
seems that with all the CCTV cameras that can spot a taxi
stopped for a second in a yellow box, they cannot see a bus,
private hire or cyclist failing to comply with the traffic
signals! Or is it because they cannot collect the fines from an
individual bus driver without upsetting a bus company - and they
work under the office of Mayor Livingstone. The cyclists cannot
be identified because they do not have any registration plates
and if they hit every private hire vehicle that broke the rules,
then you would have a delegation saying that ethnic minorities
were being picked on. Why? Because a large majority of private
hire drivers come from an ethnic |
background.
As I’ve said before, offending cyclists should be stopped by the
police and if they do not have any positive identification, then
their bike gets confiscated until such time they can offer proof
of identity and perhaps pay a £50 fine. Because these riders do
not have a licence to lose, if they are caught 3 times then it
should be a compulsory 3-month sentence in a boot camp. As these
cyclists profess to be fit, harsh physical exercise shouldn’t be
a problem!
But it seems the only people they want to prosecute are the
hard-working tax-paying drivers.
Why do the people running the country need all this money, is it
because they cannot control spending? It is like trying to
retain water in a bucket with a large hole in it.
Tom and the saga of the stolen
wallet…
An update on the saga of my stolen wallet. After some 4 weeks,
the police admitted they had lost the CCTV discs we had supplied
them. A senior officer found out about this problem and the sh*t
hit the fan! The discs were suddenly found, the thief identified
by officers in E14 when it was put on the Police Internet
system. The wallet had been found in Canning Town.
Statements were taken from Steve Thomas – who helped chase the
crook - and myself and the thief was arrested and taken to
Islington Police Station. He admitted that he had been into the
depot and my office, but denied taking my wallet. He also
pleaded that he was seriously ill, so the police bailed him
until mid-December.
When the police took our statements, I offered to give them the
wallet to try and find the thief’s fingerprints, but they
declined this offer saying they doubted they would find any
prints. This baffled me as the wallet is made of a shiny
leather, which I thought was the ideal material for gaining
fingerprints. So now we just have to wait, but I’m not holding
my breath.
Christmas thoughts…
It may be nice at this time of the
year to spare a thought for drivers who are seriously ill or
have even died during the year. Not just drivers who are well
known, but also those who have assisted the Society over the
years but never got involved further than covering the work.
Without these drivers, the Society would not be in the envious
position it has achieved. They are the unsung heroes, you have
them in all walks of life and we were lucky to have had them.
If you are driving over the Christmas period, remember it is always
the other driver who is to blame for any accident, so try and
make sure that you do not become just a statistic. Take that
extra second to check before making a driving decision.
My team and I at Roman Way would like to wish you and your family a
very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year…
Tom Whitbread
DaC Roman Way Manager |
