Cross-Border Cab Chaos: Taxi driver launches latest online petition urging DfT to tackle trade issues
Taxi driver Neil Charnock has launched the latest petition urging the Department for Transport (DfT), City of Wolverhampton Council, and Bolton Council to address the issue of cross-border hiring of private hire vehicles.
According to the petition, the deregulation is said to allow private hire vehicles to operate far from their licensed area, even across the UK. This practice is seen to undermine local taxi driving professionals and disrupt local economies.
Cross-border hiring of private hire vehicles (PHVs) has long been a controversial topic within the taxi industry for several reasons. Different areas have varying standards and regulations for licensing PHVs. Cross-border hiring allows vehicles licensed in one area, often with less stringent regulations, to operate in another, potentially undermining local standards. This can lead to concerns about vehicle safety, driver vetting, and overall service quality.
Local taxi and PHV operators can feel disadvantaged as they are often required to adhere to stricter local regulations and incur higher costs. Cross-border operators, especially those associated with large ride-hailing companies, can offer lower fares due to different licensing fees and standards. This creates an uneven playing field and can drive local operators out of business.
It is more difficult for local authorities to enforce regulations on out-of-area drivers. This can result in unlicensed activities, such as picking up passengers without pre-booking, and can lead to violations of local traffic and parking laws. If a vehicle is licensed far from where it operates, local authorities may struggle to conduct regular inspections or enforce safety standards. This raises issues about the safety of passengers and the integrity of the service.
There is also concern about the potential for increased congestion and environmental impact, as more vehicles operate in an area than the local infrastructure can support.
The latest online petition aimed at the newly formed Labour Government’s transport department is looking to highlight just some of the issues surrounding cross border.
Recently Labour MP Chris Vince spoke on the topic of cross border and the damaging effect it was having in his constituency in Harlow. The Leader of the House, Lucy Powell MP, agreed important and further debate was required.
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