Page 12
Call Sign August 2011
Green and yellow
Over the past five years, several Dial-a-
Cab drivers mainly living out of London
have written to Call Sign complaining
that they knew of yellow badge drivers
who regularly worked within green
badge areas. The only way these drivers
badges identified
would get caught was if they were spot-
ted in one of the occasional checks at rail-
way stations etc. However, if they worked
during the evening, those checks are
much fewer and the occasional taxi and
private hire check in Charing Cross Road
was about the only way they would get
their collar felt.
As the DaC drivers who wrote to us
explained, yellow badges working in
town were no better than minicab touts
because if they wanted to work in
London, then the All London Knowledge
would have been open to them. And now
that business has improved, the possibili-
ty of yellow badges taking a chance goes
up as well. Of course, it should be point-
Examples of the two identifiers
ed out that we are talking of a minority
areas they are licensed for. The identifiers
was pre-booked when the driver was in
here, with the average yellow badge con-
will be transferable between taxis too. Of
his / her own sector.
tent to work within the rules.
course, should a Suburban driver deliber-
There are also several so-called `island
But soon the chances of yellow badges
ately attempt to mislead compliance offi-
ranks' where both green and yellow
working in town will be reduced dramat-
cers or the police by using someone
badges can ply for hire. These include
ically with London Taxis and Private Hire
else's badge, then we assume that per-
Finsbury Park Bus Station (Haringey dri-
announcing something that the late
son's licence would be put at stake.
vers), Garratt Lane Arndale Centre and
Monty Schiman asked for some twenty
If any Dial-a-Cab driver sees a
Sainsbury's (Merton and Sutton), Tooting
years ago - identifying colours in the taxi
Suburban yellow badge driver plying for
to differentiate between the two types of
Broadway Station (Merton and Sutton),
hire outside his / her licence area, you
taxi drivers. And this time it isn't rumour,
Southfields Station (Merton and Sutton)
should report them to LTPH, but please,
but fact!
and Putney High Street (Richmond).
under no circumstances should any driver
Every licensed taxi driver is soon to be
The identifiers will be introduced in
confront another driver regarding their
issued with two identifiers - one for the
two phases with the All London version
actions. Also bear in mind that there
front windscreen and one for the rear.
first followed by the Suburban version.
could be any of several reasons why a
These will show whether the driver holds
yellow badge is in central London. They
an All London or Suburban licence,
Ron Yarborough
may be dropping off a fare that began in
together with the driver's licence number
Call Sign online
their own sector or picking up a fare that
and, if they are a Suburban driver, which
SUMMER OFFERS
FWD & TX1: Minor £70.00
TX11: Minor £95.00
Major £135.00
Major £135.00
TX4: 10,000 £130.00
20,000 £150.00
30,000 £130.00
40,000 £150.00***
50,000 £130.00
60,000 £150.00
70,000 £130.00***
80,000 £150.00***
Prices inclusive of VAT
*** Does not include manufacturers additional work required at specific intervals
Some of our services include:-
Overhauls Tracking/4 wheel alignment MOT testing on Class 4 vehicles Smoke test
TXII timing chains/belts TXII heater control valves TX4 servicing Tyres supplied/fitted
To book: Ring Chris on 0207 474 6592
E3 Taxis
Unit 3D Standard Industrial Estate, Henley Road, E16 2ES
Open Monday Friday 8.30am 5.30pm, Saturday 9am 1pm
