Southampton PHVs will STILL have to display operator names despite claims it restricts DRIVER CHOICE
Updated: Nov 8, 2021
Private hire vehicles in Southampton will have to continue to display both the name of the operator and licensing authority after proposals to all drivers to not have to display the name of the operator were denied.
As recently reported by TaxiPoint, the requirement to display both pieces of information, which had been in place for years, was challenged by some members of the committee, who argued that drivers could work for multiple operators.
But licensing bosses and some representatives of the trade said the requirements were put in place to help protect passengers and struggled to understand why discussions to remove a safety feature were even being considered.
Emma Campbell, who was speaking in favour of the removal of operator signs, said: “The current system isn’t working.
"Customers are being let down but by removing the operators’ details on door signs we will enable more drivers to be registered with more companies meaning there’s a larger pool of drivers available and this would lead to less waiting time, less cancellation.”
But Honorary Chairman of Radio Taxis, Clive Johnson, said: “The reason for that was the safety of our members of the public, as simple as that.
“I just find it sad that we are talking to remove something that was put there for the safety of the public.”
Phil Bates, Licensing Manager at Southampton City Council, asked members not to change the current policy.
He said: “I am satisfied that the current policy provides a measure of protection to particularly the vulnerable in our society and that should not be undermined by the desire to be more selective for the work that drivers accept.”
The majority of the committee backed Mr Bates’ suggestion and the decision to maintain the requirement for all private hire vehicles to display both the operator’s name and the licensing authority to which it is licensed will remain in place for now.
