There was a big demonstration of taxi drivers at Huddersfield Town Hall last night. It is good news that Kirklees Council are to review their new policy of banning drivers who rack up 9 points on their licences. From many of the drivers on the demonstration at the town hall last night, there was a very strong sense that this was the straw that broke the camels back. None of the drivers want to lose their livelihood so why would they risk it? If its a safety issue then they are asking for more training and also to be allowed to drive in the bus lanes. This is better for them and safer for dropping their passengers off. They also say that out of all the drivers in Kirklees, it is only a minority who rack up 9 points and that you could inadvertently get a point ending up in a bus lane to drop a passenger off more safely. Taxi drivers often face risks of physical assault and they said that in such cases they do not always get a fair hearing from the police or from the councillors. Is this new policy genuinely about promoting safer driving or is it finance-led? How many other councils aare tightening up on their policies in this way? There are a restricted number of licences and Im sure, plenty of people waiting to snap one up as they become available. Im not sure how much it costs to get a licence, but Im sure it is a tidy sum! Taxi drivers, many of them with years of experience deserve to get a fair hearing from Kirklees Council. Put their interests before profit. Kirklees Council to rethink on controversial taxi penalty points policy as drivers protest... Last month a committee of councillors backed tough new rules relating what convictions will restrict a bid to become a taxi driver examiner.co.uk|By Joanne Douglas
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:53:08 +0000
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