LICENSING LAW
This month has shown how prestigious newspapers are seeking Dial a
Cab’s opinion on leading London issues. The Independent on Sunday approached Chairman Brian Rice for comment on the Budget, as did the
Sunday Business for opinions on the mini-cab licensing bill.
Put forward - albeit as we now know unsuccessfully - by former Tory transport
secretary, Sir George Young,, this Bill would have enforced licensing of mini cabs in the
capital for the first time.
Brian Rice put his weight firmly behind enforcing the bill saying that the
licensing reform was essential. Other major taxi firms shared his opinion, as did the
London Taxi Board and all-bar-one of the London taxi trade organisations.
Under the legislation, drivers of licensed taxis would remain the only group
able to take jobs off the streets, with mini-cabs restricted to radio hire. A by-product
would probably have meant a reduction in the minicab ranks (sic) from 80,000 to under
50,000. Furthermore, no driver would be eligible for a license of either type without
first doing The Knowledge.
"The shortage of licensed drivers is down to the difficulty of The
Knowledge and the amount of time it usually takes to get a license. That can be three or
more years," the DAC Chairman told the enquiring press. With a net inflow of only 74
to the trade last year, it is clear that licensed taxi drivers are becoming the elite.
Hopefully, the new Knowledge procedure will speed things up considerably.
THE BUDGET
The recent budget was, as usual, covered extensively in the press, although
this year the Independent on Sunday asked Brian Rice for his
opinions as a leading London businessman in addition to his Chairmanship of DAC.
Brian commented on his dream budget, suggesting he would freeze fuel prices and exempt registered taxis from tolls or road-tax supplements or at least give reduced rates. If only dreams came true....
FEMALE DRIVERS
Leading the way in equal rights, Dial a Cab now has twice as many female
drivers in its ranks compared to 1995 figures, according to a report in Ms
London. But this still only accounts for 1% of the 1,700 Dial-a-Cab
drivers.
"It is time more women joined the taxi ranks," says Brian Rice.
"If you look at the rest of London’s transport system, there is a much higher
proportion of female bus drivers and underground workers than there are licensed cab
drivers."
