New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
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New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
by Aftab Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:21
New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
17.08.09
Black cab drivers today warned that proposals to limit their working hours would force them out of business.
Road safety campaign group Brake has called on the Government to make taxi and minicab drivers take regular breaks and for their working hours to be regulated.
Lorry drivers are already subject to strict working time rules and the campaigners say a similar law for cabbies could save hundreds of lives. Some MPs are also calling for ministers to look into regulating drivers' working conditions.
But taxi drivers told the Standard they are already struggling to make ends meet in the recession and such a law would put them out of business.
Mark Phillips, 47, from Basildon, said: “If this happens I will go and give my badge back. It would finish the job completely.”
Ron Stevens, 44, from Lewisham, said: “I think it will be the end of the cab trade. Most cab drivers are sensible in that they would not want to work on past what they are capable of doing.”
Brake says 300 people are killed every year in Britain by motorists falling asleep at the wheel. The charity, which advises drivers to take a rest every two hours on long journeys, says the current lack of legislation for taxis is dangerous.
But cabbies say they regularly take breaks and do not pose a danger by working long hours.
The Department for Transport said drivers had a duty not to drive while tired, but there were no plans for regulation.
17.08.09
Black cab drivers today warned that proposals to limit their working hours would force them out of business.
Road safety campaign group Brake has called on the Government to make taxi and minicab drivers take regular breaks and for their working hours to be regulated.
Lorry drivers are already subject to strict working time rules and the campaigners say a similar law for cabbies could save hundreds of lives. Some MPs are also calling for ministers to look into regulating drivers' working conditions.
But taxi drivers told the Standard they are already struggling to make ends meet in the recession and such a law would put them out of business.
Mark Phillips, 47, from Basildon, said: “If this happens I will go and give my badge back. It would finish the job completely.”
Ron Stevens, 44, from Lewisham, said: “I think it will be the end of the cab trade. Most cab drivers are sensible in that they would not want to work on past what they are capable of doing.”
Brake says 300 people are killed every year in Britain by motorists falling asleep at the wheel. The charity, which advises drivers to take a rest every two hours on long journeys, says the current lack of legislation for taxis is dangerous.
But cabbies say they regularly take breaks and do not pose a danger by working long hours.
The Department for Transport said drivers had a duty not to drive while tired, but there were no plans for regulation.
Aftab- Admin
- Number of posts : 650
Registration date : 2007-03-09
Re: New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
by Aftab Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:23
This was posted by Licensing yesterday
Licensing Section wrote:This is something that has been in the press and raised again over the past couple of weeks below is set out the current legal situation in relation to Taxi and Private hire drivers hours. Please note that if you do have a PSV or HGV licence and drive a taxi private hire as a secondary job or income then you may fall foul of certain laws, rules and regulation to do with your HGV/PSV licence, Anybod with these types of licences must check with the appropriate Auhority as to what legislation and regulations are attached to their particular licence.
1. The EU Working Hours Directive specifically excluded such drivers from the requirements.
This makes it unlikely that we could make any change to byelaws or add as a condition.
2. The Government in the past has not placed any restraints on drivers as they were of the
understanding that time waiting for passengers would not be counted and it was only the
time they were actually driving that was considered, further to this they were not to be
included in HGV or PSV legislation on driver hours.
3. There are however rules for those who are also employed as HGV or PSV drivers when
continuing to drive for payment when such hours may count.
4. We cannot, under the current legislation, make any condition in respect of a hackney
carriage driver, whether it be in respect of hours or other matters. Any byelaw must be
approved by Sec of State and anything other than those on the Standard Model are
unlikely to be approved.
5. The fitting of a tachograph would not stop certain practices as many cars are continually
on the road with changes of driver, each driver should have his own graph, but who or
how to control would be a nightmare.
7
Aftab- Admin
- Number of posts : 650
Registration date : 2007-03-09
Re: New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
by Aftab Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:28
Huddersfield charity BRAKE backs call for cuts on taxi hours
Aug 17 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
AN URGENT plea was made today to limit taxi drivers’ hours.
Huddersfield-based road safety charity Brake called on the Government to limit the number of hours taxi drivers are allowed to work before they take a proper break.
The charity is supporting the family of teenager Gary Glymond, who was knocked down and killed by a taxi in South Yorkshire on his 18th birthday in March last year.
The driver admitted he had worked for more than 13 hours.
The Department for Transport said drivers had a duty not to drive tired, but there were no plans for regulation.
Aug 17 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
AN URGENT plea was made today to limit taxi drivers’ hours.
Huddersfield-based road safety charity Brake called on the Government to limit the number of hours taxi drivers are allowed to work before they take a proper break.
The charity is supporting the family of teenager Gary Glymond, who was knocked down and killed by a taxi in South Yorkshire on his 18th birthday in March last year.
The driver admitted he had worked for more than 13 hours.
The Department for Transport said drivers had a duty not to drive tired, but there were no plans for regulation.
Last edited by Aftab on Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:30; edited 1 time in total
Aftab- Admin
- Number of posts : 650
Registration date : 2007-03-09
Re: New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
by Aftab Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:28
Huddersfield charity BRAKE backs call for cuts on taxi hours
Aug 17 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Truckers and bus drivers are subject to a maximum number of hours and must take breaks but there is no restriction for taxi drivers.
Gary’s family have met with Barnsley Central MP Eric Illsley to discuss how the loophole could be closed.
Campaigners say a lack of proper legislation on the number of hours taxi drivers can work in a single shift is dangerous.
Many private hire and Hackney carriage drivers are exempt from the European working time directive, which would limit them to working a 48-hour week with a 20-minute break every six hours.
But Mr Glymond's mother, Sue Jackson, said the law needed to be changed to include them.
“They can work 24 hours, which should not be allowed,” she said.
Aug 17 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Truckers and bus drivers are subject to a maximum number of hours and must take breaks but there is no restriction for taxi drivers.
Gary’s family have met with Barnsley Central MP Eric Illsley to discuss how the loophole could be closed.
Campaigners say a lack of proper legislation on the number of hours taxi drivers can work in a single shift is dangerous.
Many private hire and Hackney carriage drivers are exempt from the European working time directive, which would limit them to working a 48-hour week with a 20-minute break every six hours.
But Mr Glymond's mother, Sue Jackson, said the law needed to be changed to include them.
“They can work 24 hours, which should not be allowed,” she said.
Last edited by Aftab on Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:30; edited 1 time in total
Aftab- Admin
- Number of posts : 650
Registration date : 2007-03-09
Re: New rules on breaks could ruin us, say cab drivers
by Aftab Tue 18 Aug 2009 - 18:29
Birmingham airport taxi provider backs hours limit
Aug 18 2009 by Gregg Evans, Birmingham Post
Calls for official legislation to limit the number of hours taxi drivers are allowed to work have been backed by Birmingham airport’s cab provider – Passenger Transport Solutions (PTS).
Road safety charity Brake is calling on the Government to act fast to avoid further casualties similar to Gary Glymond, who was knocked down and killed by a taxi in South Yorkshire on his 18th birthday last year.
The driver admitted he had worked over 13 hours and Mr Glymond’s family have joined Brake in their rally for legislation to be introduced.
Chief executive of PTS, Mike Gilmore, said he would be behind any form of legislation that helps protect the safety of both passengers and taxi drivers at one of the biggest ranks in Birmingham.
“At PTS our first concern is delivering safety to all of our passengers,” he said.
“Because of this I’m fully behind the idea of introducing legislation that aims to protect passengers and drivers themselves.”
Many taxi drivers’ contracts make them exempt from the European working time directive, which would limit them to working a 48-hour week with a 20-minute break every six hours.
The Department for Transport said drivers had a duty not to drive tired but said there were no plans for regulation.
Aug 18 2009 by Gregg Evans, Birmingham Post
Calls for official legislation to limit the number of hours taxi drivers are allowed to work have been backed by Birmingham airport’s cab provider – Passenger Transport Solutions (PTS).
Road safety charity Brake is calling on the Government to act fast to avoid further casualties similar to Gary Glymond, who was knocked down and killed by a taxi in South Yorkshire on his 18th birthday last year.
The driver admitted he had worked over 13 hours and Mr Glymond’s family have joined Brake in their rally for legislation to be introduced.
Chief executive of PTS, Mike Gilmore, said he would be behind any form of legislation that helps protect the safety of both passengers and taxi drivers at one of the biggest ranks in Birmingham.
“At PTS our first concern is delivering safety to all of our passengers,” he said.
“Because of this I’m fully behind the idea of introducing legislation that aims to protect passengers and drivers themselves.”
Many taxi drivers’ contracts make them exempt from the European working time directive, which would limit them to working a 48-hour week with a 20-minute break every six hours.
The Department for Transport said drivers had a duty not to drive tired but said there were no plans for regulation.
Aftab- Admin
- Number of posts : 650
Registration date : 2007-03-09
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