Fuel prices
Last night I paid £1.34 per litre for diesel – that’s £6 a gallon. How long can TfL and the PCO - and for that matter DaC - go on sitting back and watch these prices rise without acting? It’s been said that by the end of the year we could see prices as high as £1.75 per litre – that’s almost £8 a gallon. My concern here is how will DaC expect us to cover the work?
   Whilst in Clapham North I was dispatched a job to pick up in Balham. I was too far away to set the meter and sent a delay time but  was scrubbed with nothing on the meter and already halfway to the pick up. So in theory, it cost me to cover this non-ride. With these high fuel charges, drivers will think twice about running to back-up zones to cover the work that may well scrub and leave them cashless for their trouble.
   So should Dial-a-Cab lead the way by placing a minimum of £5 for a scrub regardless of weather the meter is running or not, or even a 20p increase on all run ins. Shouldn’t we also lobby TfL for a surcharge or a fuel price reduction for essential vehicles?
   Well, it’s worth an ask isn’t it!
Michael Beevor (N76)
   Brian Rice replies: Yes Michael, I do have every sympathy. The price of fuel is a big problem, but it could not have come at a worse time when all the institutions are cutting back and indeed even endeavouring to reduce the price we charge to them due to the 'credit crunch'. 
   The trip in question from Balham that was scrubbed was probably due to the fact that you accepted it 3 minutes after the booked time (obviously not your fault). We phoned the customer to advise they had a taxi but they cancelled; that was 2minutes 23 seconds after you accepted it. I’m not sure how far you could have run in that amount of time at 18.15hrs in the evening, but anyway, you should have been entitled to a scrub - even if it was we who paid you for the 2minutes 23 seconds.
   I took a quick look at your trips for the past month and it seems that was the only scrub you had in that period. That is not to distract from your sentiments, however, they do have to be put into perspective…

Power Pill
Having read favourable reports on the use of Power Pill UK's fuel additives, I placed an order on their website in February of this year. My card was debited the same day, but to date I have not received any product. Attempts to contact the company by phone produce a ‘number unrecognised’ response and my emails have gone unanswered. Do you know if Power Pill UK is still trading (it appears that their website is still active and taking orders / money)? 
   Thanking you for any information you may have.
David Sharp
Dorset
   Sorry to hear that David. Call Sign publicised for several issues that the previous distributor had done a bunk of some sort and that no one should send him any money. The probability was that he spent so much time and effort trying to convince the PCO that drivers could use Power Pill rather than expensive exhaust systems, that he ended up owing money and seems now to have vanished. However, the person who distributes Power Pill now, Chris Hayball, seems legit and operates from his home in Chesterfield using PayPal for those paying online. You can also order by phone. Don’t forget, it wasn’t Power Pill that went, it was a distributor. But please only use the website in the Call Sign ad. The previous one is still floating around out there and still has the capability to snap up your money …Ed

Is the speeding loophole still working?
 Just to let you know that the PACE letter does still work (May Call Sign, page 33). I received a letter today offering me the option of a 2.5 hour speeding awareness session (and a bill of £95) or £60 fine and 3 penalty points. I think I know which one I'm going for!
   Thanks for the reprint of the letter - talk about good timing!
Chris Lane (V63)
   This was the second time that Call Sign has published the letter known as PACE. Initially it had the desired effect of getting any alleged speeding offence ‘scrubbed’ but it could be that whilst the police have managed to partially close the loophole, that they will offer the opportunity to attend the one-day speeding awareness course rather than get the 3 points on your licence. That can’t be guaranteed, but Chris is now the third driver (that we know of) to be made the offer. Pleased we could help …Ed

BioMethane engine for LTI?
This country should be ashamed of itself because we lag so for behind in finding ways to be green. It is about time LTI took a serious look at a BioMethane engine because the way they are thinking they will be left behind. The following comes from the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles.
   "The construction of the largest biogas plant Switzerland in Inwil (near Lucerne) is nearing completion on time, according to a briefing delivered by representatives of Natural Gas Central Switzerland AG (Erdgas Zentralschweiz AG) and partners. From approximately 60,000 tonnes of biomass processed every year, 1.9 million cubic meters of biogas will be produced, sufficient to fuel 2,000 natural gas vehicles at 12,000 km annual performance. The gas will replace some 2 million litres of fossil fuel (petrol) without compromising food production in a saving of 4,000 tonnes of CO². The plant, costing around $16.5 million and covering approximately 13,500 square meters, is due to go into service in October 2008.
   CO²-neutral biogas will be derived from manure, dung, green and other biogenic waste.
Useful side effects of the plant are the reduction of traffic through manure transport and sustainable reduction of ammonia emissions in the catchment area of the plant. Throughout Switzerland in 2007, vehicles fuelled by natural gas and biogas reduced petrol consumption
by approximately 10 million litres, of which one fifth was biogas."
Stanley Roth (Y53)
   Manure, dung, green and other biogenic waste? You wouldn’t want to buy a house to near the plant! In addition Stanley, you might be a little unfair on LTI as they’ve recently announced an electric cab (2009) and one that will run on a hydrogen cell (2012). Besides, given a choice between those two or a combination of manure and dung, I think I know what I might go for! …Ed

Thank you Call Sign
On behalf of the Ellenor Lions hospices, I would like to thank Call Sign for sponsoring Phillip Hannah with a generous cheque donation of £50, after he competed in and finished the Flora London Marathon.
   Phillip did tremendously well, raising to date £2330 and we are all so grateful to him for the time and effort that is needed to participate in an event such as this, not to mention the blood sweat and tears!
   Thank you once again for your support of Phillip. It gives us much encouragement to continue our efforts to raise the necessary funds to offer true palliative care to people with life-shortening illnesses.
Linda Wood
The Lions Hospice, Swanscombe
   The Lions Hospice was one of several charities that Call Sign sponsored via DaC drivers running in the marathon. In addition, there was a driver’s daughter swimming the channel, staff members running around Richmond Park and Jon Woolnough (L22) competing in the 3 Peaks Challenge where he will run across 3 mountains! They are all mad but wonderful people and this magazine – on behalf of our readers – is proud to be able to help …Ed

T5 and SW1…
A couple of points I'd like to ask:
   1) I had my very first account job to terminal 5 the other day. During the journey I rang the control room to ask if there was a recommended route. A few seconds later on my screen came the answer: North Perimeter Road round to the West Perimeter Road and follow signs to Terminal 5. This I indeed adhered to and dropped my passenger off accordingly. But on looking at the map later, I found that had I carried on along the M4 up to the M25 junction and gone along the M25 for a few hundred yards to the Terminal 5 turn-off, not only would the mileage have been virtually the same, but the time taken to get to terminal 5 would've been significantly quicker! So, the question is would there be a breach of conduct should I choose to go Terminal 5 via the M25?
   2) On occasion, when booking into any of the zones from SW10 to SW19, my finger has slipped and having accidentally entered just SW1, sent the data . Then up comes the message at the bottom of the screen: QP SW1 001. Of course, as we all know, SW1 is split into SW1N, SW1E and SW1W. So what on earth is this interloper of a zone doing and are there ever any jobs directed to it? Just curious!Robert Richland (N94)
Keith Cain replies: Robert, there is no right or wrong way to get to Terminal 5. The only reason I assume the call centre gave the Perimeter Road route is that it can be slightly less costly for the client. The controllers are full aware of the possible consequences high price meter fares to Terminal 5 could have in the future. It really is a decision for the driver or the passenger.
   Without getting too technical, the reason SW1 is in the system is because when we used the SE75 zone to service the HOC trips, SE75 required a primary zone. SW1 was set up as its primary zone because no work would be dispatched to it. To avoid any further confusion, I have requested that SW1 be removed…

Parking Tickets and the New Traffic Management Act 2004
 It is now twelve weeks since the new parking ticket legislation came into force on 31 March 2008. Despite government claims that the new laws will be fairer,

TaxiCards and PCNs
Regarding your article in the April edition of Call Sign entitled Cab Parking Tickets and TaxiCards, I would like to inform you that on Friday 9 May I received a PCN whilst picking up a  TaxiCard ride from St. Mary's Hospital, QEQM Wing in South Wharf Road. I could not get onto the rank because of a badly parked ambulance, so I
parked outside the main entrance, ran in and helped the old lady into my cab and left the scene within 4 minutes. Whilst I was trying to locate the passenger in the reception area, I could see a parking attendant through the window taking the details of my cab, which would have happened within  less than one minute of me parking. I escorted the old lady, who was clinging onto my arm whilst I was carrying her bag and her walking stick, towards the cab and explained to the attendant that this was a TaxiCard ride and that I would be leaving very shortly. He reiterated that it was too late and that he would make a note of it. The end result was that I still received a PCN potentially charging me a penalty of £120. Could you advise me what I should do next and pass this information over to Barrie Segal as stated in your article.
Andrew Morrison (B78)
   Barrie Segal has had talks with Westminster about PCNs being issued while drivers are assisting passengers. Barrie knows them personally, but when it comes to officialdom everything takes time. The only current advice is to always appeal if it was a TaxiCard (or account ride). Of course you can always pass it over to DaC, but we need to show that we are annoyed at this constant harassment and if, as Barrie says above,
Westminster are about to double the number of CCTV cameras, then it’s almost a battle for life because DaC aren’t going to continue paying forever if the number of PCNs received doubles. Incidentally, Andrew appealed and the PCN was overturned …Ed

Arbitrator’s election
I have recently received a letter from Howard Pears informing me that I was unsuccessful with my application as an arbiter.
   Despite frequent bouts of depression, I shall not give up and will continue to make my self available should any vacancy arise at Dial-a-cab House irrespective of job status. This will include in-house sanitation, tea making and cleaning Allen Togwell's golf clubs and golf shoes - but not his balls.
   At this time of writing I am unaware of who the successful candidate is, but would like the opportunity to congratulate and also wish him all the best in this position. Any member who is prepared to give of their time to the Society is a winner, so well done to those gentlemen that also applied for position as an arbiter. May I also take this opportunity to thank all the members that put their trust in me by voting for me.
Steve Shaller MOFS (R75) 
   PS The wrists are healing up well…

And the winner is…
Just a brief note to thank the 39.7% of you that voted for me in the recent election for an arbitrator. As I stated in my brief CV in the May Call Sign, most of you probably only know me from my page 2 articles in the magazine as I usually leave home at 4pm and get home around 1am, rarely stopping for many chit chats or breaks in-between. The task of an arbiter is rarely required, but is a very responsible position where member’s lives can be
determined by a decision and accordingly I will take very seriously any decisions with the responsibility you have entrusted to me…
Alan Nash (A95)

SatNav?
 Some time ago I remember reading and hearing that DaC were in the process (or contemplating) updating the fleet's terminals with new technology, which would include a SatNav facility. Can you confirm if this is the case and if so, when will it commence?
   I am thinking about purchasing a SatNav personally as this can be an asset for that elusive suburb or dare Ii think it - home county job!
   Cheers Alan, look forward to hearing from you…
Roland Brewer (M38)
   Brian Rice replies: You are quite right Roland; you did read that we were going to incorporate SatNav in any new terminal. However, our priority at the moment is installing our new channels, acquiring new aerial sites and generally improving signals.  As you can no doubt appreciate, it is no good having the latest television installed at home, surround sound etc, but you only receive an intermittent signal from the transmitter. When we are satisfied we have signals as good as we can get them, then we will press on with the terminal. However, when we have the new terminal, which will not be in the immediate future, we will probably equip the fleet at the rate of 100 mobiles a month.  Consequently, if you require SatNav now then that is a decision only you can make. I hope the above clarifies the situation for you.

Who does what?
Dear Brian.
   I read in the May Call Sign that you and the usual suspects were invited (summoned) to a meeting with the Home Office to be told of a new attack on Taxi drivers called the ISA. If my memory serves me well, that stands for the Investigative Strategic Authority or something similar, it matters not what stupid name they’ve come up with this time. The LTDA - I think that’s an acronym for Let Them Do Anything - were concerned of the extra expense to Taxi drivers, probably because they might sell fewer holidays or insurance as a result of it (yes I remember when they were formed and for what reason). I believe you mentioned that the CRB should be sufficient, forgive my suppositions, but my Call Sign was accidentally recycled by my wife. We’ve never really met, but have spoken on the phone and you seem a nice guy, I am very satisfied with you as Chairman and really have no interest in your earnings. But having established that, you do not represent me when you attend these meetings and come out shaking your head with the other sheep. Has it never occurred to you and the others to say to these meddlers that can’t keep their noses out of anything, that you will go away and suggest to your members to reject any further intrusions into our personal lives? Who are these people checking up on us? What do we know about them? Wasn’t it the Home Office that allowed many illegal immigrants onto its payroll, didn’t they lose computer files, weren’t they described by John Reed as not fit for purpose? And if anyone thinks the present incumbent is going to put matters right, dream on. This trade established its reputation as the best in the world without the interference of busybodies trying to justify their non-jobs, and it’s about time they were given the boot.
   We’ve just rid ourselves of the obnoxious Livingstone; let’s not allow others to push us around. If we do, the next step down the line will be that you’ll have to have an ID card to renew your licence, to no doubt be followed with the addition of your fingerprints and DNA. That’s what this is all about, these control freaks are desperate for a database on the law abiding. It’s all about control. It’s about time we had a political section in Call Sign Everywhere we go we are being monitored, fined for doing u-turns or venturing into deserted bus lanes in the early hours. 4.5 million cameras watching us, satellite tracking on our vehicles, mobile phone tracking. Why? And yet if you become the victim of crime no one wants to know. This trade is still the best in the world, but has lost the will to stand up for itself. And Brian, that comes down to you and those that purport to represent us. Now that our spokespersons wear suits, it should not mean that they become nodding donkeys. After all what could they do if 22,000 cab drivers said no?
   These new conditions of fitness being continually asked of us have a history. After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. a decorated soldier by the name of Timothy McVeigh was convicted and put to death by lethal injection for causing the death of 176 employees of the FBI building in Oklahoma City by explosion, however the world renowned author and political commentator Gore Vidal and many other respected people, were of the opinion that McVeigh was aided and abetted by government agents. The outcome however was that President Clinton made an announcement that basically said if freedom of the people resulted in such atrocities, freedom of the people must be restricted and he brought in the Terrorism Act with a clause that allowed suspension of Habeas Corpus - ring any bells?
   Then after 9/11, again an event that has created much controversy, the much-respected American author and theologian David Ray Griffin described the official report as 571 pages of lies. Whatever the truth, President Bush declared the War on Terror and since then, governments around the world have taken the opportunity to harness the freedom of their people. This is what is happening to us now. I leave you with a couple of paragraphs from a speech made by Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls and one of our finest judges to the Hamlyn Trust in 1949 (an organisation, among other things, to promote the freedoms that the people of this country enjoy as opposed to other European countries). Read it carefully and think about the future you want for yourself and your children and then make up your mind if this country is going the right way.
   From Lord Denning: Let me define my terms. By personal freedom, I mean the freedom of every law-abiding citizen to think what he will, to say what he will, and to go where he will on his lawful occasions without let or hindrance from any other persons. Despite all the great changes that have come about in the other freedoms, this freedom has in our country remained intact. It must be

Getting better…
Many thanks to Val and Nuala in Driver Services for their help during my time off work due to an operation. Thanks also to the Board and Staff for the lovely bouquet of flowers and get well card I received. I have been off work since the end of April and hope to return on a part- time basis in September.
Stewart Lewis (D20)
   I spoke to Stewart last week and he sounds much better …Ed

Zones
Dear Alan
   You may remember at the AGM I brought up the problem of jobs being sent out in the wrong outer zones, well it is still happening. As an example, this morning a job in NN99 came to me. I was booked in W50N so I get the offer as I am in the backup zone. I took a look and accepted it. Problem was the pickup is in Chelmsford and there are 3 cabs booked in E99. I phoned the control room and said it was too far to run and to put it back into the system again. It went very quickly. But the fun did not end with this job. Later that morning I accepted a job with the destination given as Gower Street and to confirm destination with the passenger. He says no, when he booked the cab he told the call taker he was going to Euston Station. I wonder if anyone from the call centre could comment. Something is not working well.
Ray Sorene (A53)
   Having investigated the two trips it does appear the first trip was dispatched to NN99 instead of E99. The reason for this is because the telephonist was incorrectly informed by the controller which zone to enter onto the booking. Due to the fact that the pick up address is not within our database, a telephonist has to force the address into the system. This can only be done with the authorisation of the controller who has to acknowledge the trip. On this occasion, the controller has obviously made the mistake of selecting the wrong pick up zone and has marked the trips of his error. 
   The second one confirms the passenger did say Euston Station and the telephonist inadvertently validated Euston Underground Station, which is in Gower Street. All addresses selected, whether pick up or destination, are viewed from the same database. The despatch system has various ways of helping a telephonist to validate a pick up. One way of doing this is to type in the first four letters of the pick up, which will show a list of all pick up locations spelt EUST. From the list, the telephonist then chooses the one by selecting a number. Unfortunately, the one selected was for the Underground not the Overground Station. With the two being very close together, she has mistyped or pressed two keys at the same time and the wrong one has been entered. Only when validating a destination address does the building name drop to just show the street name. If it had been a pick up, then the telephonist would have seen and realised that the underground station had been selected.
   Unfortunately, humans do make mistakes and regrettably Ray has experienced two in one day. All mistakes that Call Centre staff make are firstly brought to their attention and recorded against their work record. Should any individual make an excessive number of mistakes, then disciplinary action is taken. My apologies to A53…

Busy?
Regarding the recent drop in work, fellow subscribers are asking why we don’t get so much from our account at London Wall? There seems to be lots for cars but not so much for us. Is this due to the Concierge system? It seems that without a certain investment bank just off Gresham Street, we would all be down Carey Street! As regarding fellow subscribers who have the T attribute, take it out and Concierge won’t exist - or are you worried you might miss something? Mmmm, yes I think so...
Patrick Noble (S55)
   Brian Rice replies: We still get a great deal of work from the Bank in question and still more than the cars. However, due to the present economic climate, clients are looking at their costs - particularly those in the financial sector. I know all the reasons, but whether we like it or not cars are cheaper than us. You have no perception of how difficult it is to maintain our current levels, particularly when you are endeavouring to sell a far more expensive product! You and I know why it is more expensive, but clients are not interested. However, we are still successful being in excess of £1.5million up on turnover compared to the same period last year, figures our competitors can only envy!
   It’s evident from your letter that you do not understand how Concierge works. The 'T' attribute has absolutely nothing to do with it! However, if you care to contact me, I will be delighted to explain the whole scenario to you.
   Regarding the Investment Bank just off Gresham Street where we are the sole supplier of taxis, the amazing thing about it is we took that account from a competitor because we had Concierge, in fact we built it for the bank and guess what - they are now our largest account! Thank God we had the foresight to be first in the market place with a new product that not only secured that account, but also another extremely large account on the 'Island' where again we are the sole suppliers of taxis.
   The market place is extremely tough at present as you have no doubt realised, because that is all you hear when you turn on the radio or TV or read a newspaper. If the pundits continue to talk the economy down, it will get even tougher. Everyone at DaC House is working flat out to maintain our current levels of work, in fact we have improved on it slightly and it would be nice - just occasionally - if some members realised that! Make no mistake Patrick, at the moment we are the most successful radio Taxi circuit in London, which means that everyone is after us whether it be in our own trade, the minicab industry or indeed the independent software houses. You do not help matters by talking things down - just like the political pundits!

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