TELFORD

Taxi and private hire drivers in Telford are to be trained by the company police forces use to give speed awareness courses.

From this month, anybody applying for a licence from the council will have to undergo an hour of training before taking an extensive exam on rules and regulations on becoming a taxi or private hire driver, plus a practical driving test.

TTC Group, which will run the Knowledge and Driving Standards Test, aims to explore some of the challenges and scenarios facing the drivers, including the rules and regulations of holding a hackney carriage or private hire licence and how to report collisions.

This comes as the Department for Transport is currently in consultation on whether to enforce more extensive checks on taxi drivers in efforts to close loopholes in the system and ensure the safety of residents.

Angie Astley, assistant director of neighbourhood and customer services at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “Our officers apply the highest standards when we license drivers, and our partnership with TTC is to ensure the safety of anyone using a taxi or private hire vehicle.
Spot checks

“Every driver applying for a licence with Telford & Wrekin Council will receive one hour of training with an experienced road safety expert before sitting a Knowledge Test on what it means to be a taxi or private hire driver and the behaviour expected of them.

"Prior to any licence being granted, drivers must pass this test in addition to taking and passing the Driving Standards test, which is a one-hour practical exam on the road.

“If you book a private hire vehicle or hail a taxi that has been licensed by Telford & Wrekin Council, you should be safe in the knowledge that they meet our high standards – our officers will act on anyone who doesn’t.”

Spot checks conducted in Telford by police officers last year resulted in three private hire drivers facing enforcement action for picking up unbooked fares.

Andy Wheeler, business development director at TTC Group, said: “We have a proven track record in improving driving safety and behaviour and this latest contract will tap into our expertise and systems to help Telford & Wrekin Council ensure every taxi driver on local roads has gone through the right knowledge and practical driving tests.

“Hopefully, the individuals looking to secure their badges will also benefit from the new approach, advice and guidance we can offer.

"Education can play a crucial role in improving the safety of our roads.”

https://bit.ly/2WK5T65
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 Over 150 Glasgow students stranded without money were taking home by a city taxi firm last year.

The Student Taxi Scheme, led by Glasgow Taxis Ltd in partnership with the University of Glasgow, Strathclyde University and Glasgow Caledonian University, was launched in 2015.

The programme allows any university student in the city without cash to get home in a Glasgow Taxi, just by using their matriculation card.

Through the initiative, Glasgow Taxis Ltd can provide the students with access to a Safe Taxi by calling and quoting a code available from the university. The student then gives the driver their student card and repays the cost to their Students’ Union when they collect their card after one working day.

 A spokesman for Glasgow Taxis Ltd said: “We’re very proud of the relationship we have with the city’s universities and nowhere is that more important than through our Safe Taxi Scheme, which has now been running for almost four years.

"First and foremost, I’d like to thank our members and drivers for supporting this scheme and for their role in ensuring these 150 students all made it home safely last year, many of them new to the city of Glasgow.

“The stereotypical view is that these are students who have run out of money at the end of a night out, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

"Two recent cases involved one student who had been admitted to hospital and another at a police station who had witnessed an incident. Thankfully they were aware of our scheme and able to get home safely and quickly, alleviating not only their own stress but that of their families and friends.

“It’s another demonstration of Glasgow Taxis Ltd giving back in our position as a friend of the city. I’m delighted to confirm that we are committed to continuing the Safe Taxi Scheme throughout 2019 and look forward to continuing to support the three universities and their students when they need us most.”

Fatemeh Nokhbatolfoghahai, Vice President of Student Support at the University of Glasgow, added: “Over the last three years many of our students have benefitted from our partnership with Glasgow Taxis.

https://bit.ly/2TWynYR
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 NEW YORK

Uber spent $2 million since 2015 in a campaign to approve congestion pricing, the company confirmed Wednesday.

“Over the past several years, we’ve been proud to work with a diverse coalition to fight for comprehensive congestion pricing, and we’re excited to see Albany take action to reduce congestion and invest in mass transit,” said Harry Hartfeld, a spokesman for the rideshare app.

Uber has spent $1 million just since November pushing to bring congestion pricing below 61st Street, including spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund an ad on behalf of the Fix Our Transit coalition that targeted undecided pols.

The company also says it’s publicly committed to spending $10 million in support of congestion pricing nationwide.

Fewer cars on the road speeds up Uber rides — and motorists who give up their cars completely might end up as Uber customers.

Uber hired some of the city’s top lobbyists, including Stu Loeser, a onetime senior aide to former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Five separate lobbyists were paid $423,552 last year alone, according to records filed with the city clerk.

Cabs and for-hire vehicles have already been socked with a congestion surcharge for rides below 96th Street in Manhattan.

But it’s the passengers who pay the charge for each ride — $2.50 for taxis and $2.75 for on-call car services — not the car companies.

Motorists will have to wait until at least November 2020 to find out how much they’ll have to pay to enter the congestion zone.

https://nyp.st/2VfGcdf