Follow PHTM
Posted on the 1st October 2024 in PHTM News
DUNDEE TAXI DRIVERS STRUGGLING WITH LOW EMISSION ZONE
Taxi drivers in Dundee have expressed frustration with the city's Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which has forced many to make costly upgrades or leave the industry altogether.
Drivers of diesel wheelchair accessible taxis have been worst effected by the LEZ, which came into force on 30 May 2024, as some of their vehicles didn’t meet LEZ requirements.
Graeme Stephen, chairman of the Dundee Taxi Association, told STV News that the high cost of upgrading vehicles, combined with the difficulty in obtaining electric wheelchair accessible options, has led to a decline in the number of taxi drivers in the city compared to 2023.
He said: "The WAVs were still working very well but drivers had to go and order other ones which were very, very hard to get hold of.
“You don’t get an electric wheelchair accessible vehicle. There was one, but Nissan is no longer doing that, and you were only getting 80 to 90 miles with that, which is no use.
“Taxi drivers are getting on a wee bit but [are] still willing to work on. If they try to get a loan for a new vehicle, it’s very difficult because of what taxi drivers are earning and the price of a new vehicle, especially WAVs; companies are not willing to lend that kind of money.
“I’m led to believe that some just threw the towel in and put their licence away and gave it up."
More than 5,500 fines have been issued in the first three months of Dundee’s LEZ. Latest figures from Dundee City Council show the total value of fines issued up to August 25, 2024 amounted to £454,320, but only £95,550 has been paid so far.
Read another story
- TWO DARLINGTON PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS FINED FOR ILLEGALLY PLYING FOR HIRE
Two private hire drivers from Darlington have been fined after being caught illegally plying for hire in the town centre.
- BELFAST INTRODUCES TEMPORARY BUS LANE CHANGES TO EASE CONGESTION
DfI Minister John O’Dowd has announced a pilot scheme to allow taxis in certain classes to use designated bus lanes in Belfast during road works associated with the Grand Central Station project.
- PASSENGER JAILED FOR SIX MONTHS FOR ASSAULTING DRIVER AND DAMAGING CAB IN FALKIRK
A woman has been sentenced to six months in prison for assaulting a taxi driver and causing £500 worth of damage to his cab.
- YORK TAXI DRIVERS CONCERNED OVER LICENSING CHANGES WHICH COULD IMPACT AVAILABILITY AND COST OF WAVS
On Tuesday 9 October, City of York Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee met to discuss its draft new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire policy.
- THOUSANDS OF LONDON CABBIES WRONGLY RECEIVE FINES AFTER CYBERATTACK AT TFL
Black cab drivers in London are facing a significant issue due to a cyberattack on Transport for London (TfL).
- NEW PRESTON BUS GATE GENERATES £1M IN FINES IN THREE MONTHS
The bus gate was installed six months ago on Corporation Street in Preston by Lancashire County Council (LCC) in a bid to reduce traffic at peak times and allow buses right of way.
- REWARD OF £1,000 OFFERED TO CATCH INTRUDER WHO ASSAULTED MI TAXIS NUNEATON OPERATOR
John Igoe, director of Mi Taxis Nuneaton has offered £1,000 to catch intruder who assaulted his operator at 8am on the morning of Saturday 12 October.
- NORTHWICH PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE PARKED AND ALLEGEDLY PLYING FOR HIRE ON A TAXI RANK
Driver has been reported to Cheshire West and Chester Council enforcement team who will hopefully take swift action
- TAKEME RAISES MONEY TO SUPPLY 3 OR 4 TUK TUKS TO FEMALE DRIVERS IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES
This is a fantastic initiative, a life changer for these ladies to be able earn an income to feed their families.
- BURNLEY PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER TARGETED IN THREE SEPARATE STONE THROWING ATTACKS
Danish Ali, who works for Ride Taxis, reported three separate attacks in recent weeks, involving young people throwing stones at his vehicle.
- ELON MUSK UNVEILS TESLA'S ROBOTAXI 'CYBERCAB' AND HIS AUTONOMOUS DRIVING PLANS
The reveal at the 'We, Robot' event also saw announcements for expanded autonomous driving capabilities in the Model 3 and Model Y Tesla vehicles.
- HOVE TAXI PASSENGER ARRESTED FOR CLASS A DRUGS
Plain-clothed officers from the Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU) spotted the passenger acting suspiciously in Cromwell Road on Friday, October 4.
- WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD TAXIS SET FOR A LIVERY MAKEOVER
The Royal Borough Council is considering ditching the traditional purple livery for licensed hackney carriages, replacing it with a simpler design that features the borough's coat of arms.
- CABBIE'S HEART ATTACK SURVIVAL SPARKS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
A London cab driver who miraculously survived a heart attack has launched a fundraising campaign to provide more defibrillators across the city.
- BRISTOL UBER DRIVERS PROTEST AGAINST FARE CUTS COMMISSION AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION
Dozens of angry Uber drivers took to the streets of Bristol on Wednesday to protest against the company's recent decision to slash customer fares by 50%.
- DERBY CABBIE SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS TWO MONTHS FOR TRANSFERRING £1M CRIMINAL MONEY
Serwan Mahmoud, 43, was caught transporting £76,000 in cash on the M4 near Cardiff.
- UBER CEO SAYS ELECTRIC CARS ARE "JUST PLAIN BETTER"
Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of Uber, has outlined the company's ambitious plans to accelerate its transition to a fully electric fleet in the UK.
- CHESTERFIELD TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST AGAINST WOLVERHAMPTON COMPETITION
Chesterfield drivers staged a protest outside the town hall on Tuesday, October 8, to voice their concerns about the impact of Wolverhampton-licensed cabs on their livelihoods.
- WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL TIGHTENS LICENSING PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES
Wolverhampton Council is taking steps to curb the number of private hire drivers it licenses following a series of sexual abuse cases involving licensed taxis.
- TAXI EXPERTS ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING CABBIES AHEAD OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
Taxi drivers may avoid seeking professional help due to concerns that it could be reported to the DVLA, affecting their ability to drive
