And they attack Call Sign in the process…

There are around 20,000 licensed taxis with 24,000 licensed taxi drivers, battling some 2,000 licensed private hire operators with around 43,000 vehicles working for them. It now looks as though the latter are about to collect a signage victory and are on the verge of having brand names, phone numbers and websites allowed on the reverse of their cars.
   The move was put into place by previous Mayor, Ken Livingstone and would undoubtedly have ended with allowing private hire cars into bus lanes – something new Mayor Boris Johnson has told Call Sign he will not allow. Mr Livingstone claimed that signage on licensed minicabs displaying the operator's name and contact details would make it easier for passengers to be certain they were getting into the vehicle they had pre-booked. In theory, that should be correct. In practice it could pose many hidden dangers.
   In the latest issue of Private Hire News, Licensed Private Hire Care Association Chairman, Steve Wright MBE attacked Call Sign writing:
   "Alan Fisher of taxi magazine Call Sign said ‘quite possible the biggest victory the Licensed taxi trade has ever achieved’ when describing the decision to ban exterior advertising from minicabs. We wonder where the safety of the travelling public came in his thinking?"
   Well Steve, I’ll tell you. Even though the quote was from a 2004 article, when you see a licensed taxi you recognise it immediately. When you see a private hire vehicle, you have to assume it is genuine. I’m sure you’ve seen cars for sale that come complete with front and back PH licenses in the windows! Not for one moment am I suggesting that