TaxiPoint January 2022 Edition 33 by TaxiPoint

The UK’s #1 Taxi News Source Over 1.5

Edition 33 | JANUARY 2022

million magazine reads in the last year

SOS LONDON KNOWLEDGE | NO RIDE LIST PANDEMIC PREDICTIONS | MENTAL HEALTH FORD E-CABBI | EV BATTERIES AND MORE...

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JANUARY 2022 - Edition 33

EDITORIAL

TAXIPOINT IN NUMBERS

TaxiPoint Chief Editor: Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Editor: Michael Murphy TaxiPoint Publishing & Advertising Manager: Lindsey Richardson Visit us online at: www.taxi-point.co.uk Write to us at: contact@taxi-point.co.uk Advertising enquiries at: advertising@taxi-point.co.uk

Welcome to our latest edition of TaxiPoint and we hope you had a good festive period. First up, thank you for continuing to read TaxiPoint. We are immensely proud of the readership numbers for 2021 and determined to bring the latest and most trusted news stories to the taxi industry this New Year too. In 2022 TaxiPoint will also be launching a few new services and improving the platform. Soon we hope to launch a brand new YouTube channel, plus bring more taxi stories across all platforms using video and audio. We’ve also got a taxi industry first being worked on which we hope to have ready by Spring. This one is a bit of a secret at the moment though!

The publishers reserve the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisers must comply with the British Code of Advertising practice. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. All written and image rights are reserved by the author as displayed. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Copyright brand TaxiPoint 2022. Creative Common image licenses displayed where applicable.

2022 should be an exciting year for all in the taxi industry after a hard couple of years. Be lucky and fingers crossed COVID restrictions ease soon.

Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Chief-Editor and Founder

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PLYING-FOR-HIRE

When we think of the distinction between taxis and private hire vehicles, there is usually one big difference that all licensing authorities use. The distinction between ‘plying-for-hire’ and pre-booked journeys. It is something that should be very black and white given the industry works in two tiers. However, for those working in the sector, the distinction has become grey and blurred in areas. Back in May 2014 the Law Commission produced recommendations for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services with the aim of providing a clearer distinction between the services offered by the two trades. Though not defined in the legislation, ‘plying-for-hire’ describes the activity reserved to licensed taxis. Simply, most people might define ‘plying-for-hire’ as driving around looking to be hailed or waiting for passengers at a taxi rank. The Law Commission however said the concept had developed into something ‘inevitably more complex’ and ‘leaves considerable grey areas, particularly in the interface with licensed private hire vehicles’. There were even questions over the legitimacy of new ways of providing services, especially those using technology such as mobile phones and smartphone applications.

WHAT IS PLYING-FOR-HIRE? Your black cabs and licensed taxi services are referred to in legislation as “hackney carriages”. A hackney carriage is defined by section 38 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 in the following terms:

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Charity

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May 2019 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 20

PLYING-FOR-HIRE ‘Every wheeled carriage, whatever may be its form or construction, used in standing or plying for hire in any street within the prescribed distance... shall be deemed to be a hackney carriage within the meaning of this Act.’

consumers to engage services. Internet bookings for example can be virtually immediate, suggesting taxilike behaviour, and yet have all the characteristics of a pre-booking, making them compliant with private hire requirements.’

Plying-for-hire without a taxi licence is a criminal offence and is therefore the critical point in defining The legislation applying to London is slightly different what private hire vehicles are and are not allowed to to that used elsewhere around the UK, but uses do. similar terminology. Taxis in the capital have It has been nearly EIGHT YEARS since it was exclusive right to ‘ply-for-hire’ making it the defining suggested that the definition of ‘plying-for-hire’ characteristic of taxis under current law, but crucially should be placed on a statutory footing to reflect the the term is not defined in legislation. modern understandings of what taxis do.

MODERN DAY QUESTIONS: CAN DRIVERS ACCEPT FARES WHILST CHARGING THEIR ELECTRIC TAXIS? London Assembly Member Keith Prince asked the Mayor whether a taxi driver is plying for hire when they are parked in an electric taxi bay charging their taxi. Prince also asked whether they are compelled to take a passenger on a 12 mile or 1 hour trip when on charge. In the Law Commission report it says: ‘Picking up passengers at ranks and in response to hailing is generally understood to be at the core of plying for hire, but these activities do not feature in the legislation. Instead, the case law refers to factors such as the “exhibition” of the vehicle, which may indicate plying for hire, its availability to the general public and the “immediacy” of its availability. ‘Parking a vehicle in a public place may or may not amount to plying for hire, depending on an assessment of these factors. ‘The case law is often inconsistent and unclear. Technology has highlighted the indeterminacy of some of these factors by adding new ways for

Sadiq Khan responded: “Taxi-dedicated rapid charging bays are not located at taxi ranks. “Transport for London (TfL) advises me that it would not expect a taxi parked in a dedicated rapid charging bay and charging to have its ‘Taxi’ light turned on, which denotes that it is available for hire. “Subject to a taxi being available for hire, where it is either parked in a rank or has its ‘Taxi’ light illuminated, the reasons a taxi driver can refuse a fare are: If the journey is over 12 miles (or over 20 miles if it starts at Heathrow Airport);

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PLYING-FOR-HIRE or the journey is likely to last for more than one hour; or the journey ends outside the Greater London area.”

Earlier this year Metropolitan Police officers approached As a licensed taxi driver, and someone that has a good understanding of the regulations, the response and reported a licensed black cab which was parked up outside is hard to understand. The charging bay is not seen Paddington Station’s Praed as taxi rank, which would raise alarm bells with regards to plying-for-hire, but the Mayor of London Street entrance displaying his taxi availability on an unofficial taxi rank with his also states it is the taxi light that denotes the light on. availability of a taxi. Can taxi drivers accept a fare whilst charging their black cab up with their light on?

HOW IS PLYING-FOR-HIRE ENFORCED? Police forces across the UK work with the licensing authorities to patrol hotspots looking to catch unlicensed cars, private hire vehicles and even licensed taxis for unlawfully plying-for-hire.

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The moment the driver accepts a fare outside of ‘plying-for-hire’ rules an offence has been committed. If pulled over, enforcement officers will usually check whether the vehicle is insured correctly and interview the driver. After that a case could then be built to prosecute the driver. If a driver is found guilty of ‘plying-for-hire’ without a licence, they could face a fine up to £2,500. According to Tuckers Solicitors they could potentially

PLYING-FOR-HIRE also face disqualification from driving as at the point the offence has been committed the insurance of the vehicle would be invalidated. This could ultimately lead to a 6-8 points penalty on a driver’s licence or a period of disqualification.

PLYING-FOR-HIRE: THE DIGITAL HAIL Here’s where it gets really grey. Given that ‘plyingfor-hire’ is what distinguishes the two sectors the rules should be clear and concise to maintain a thriving two-tier system that works for both parties. However, ride-hailing and the digital hail blurred itself between taxi and private hire legislation under the name of ‘disruption’.

Ever since technology gathered pace and smartphones began ‘immediately pre-booking’ minicabs, many drivers and representatives within the sector simply see the technology as a way of circumventing the regulations currently in place.

Back in June 2015 four taxi unions came together to call for a new statutory definition of ‘plying-for-hire’ off the back of the Law Commission report. They called for a ‘robust’ definition that would enable the industry to maintain and sustain a two-tier system Until recently there has been little movement, and certainly no desire from Government, to remove the (taxis and minicabs) for future generations. There was also a belief that the ‘Knowledge of London’ and fog around how digital hailing fits into current the right to ply-for-hire was ‘intrinsically linked’. legislation. Could 2022 now be the year that the ‘grey’ becomes In December 2021 the London taxi trade won the right to Judicially Review rules around plying-for-hire the black and white for all? as a result of a landmark ruling at the High Court.

The opportunity arose, after years of debate within the taxi sector, when a Judicial Review led by the United Trade Action Group (UTAG) against FREE NOW was challenged in two parts; the Operator point and Facilitating Private Hire Vehicles (PHV) to Ply for Hire via an App. UTAG was successful on the Operator ground only, but crucially WERE ALLOWED to appeal the decision regarding plying-for-hire at a higher authority.

ARTICLE BY: PERRY RICHARDSON TAXIPOINT FOUNDER

This new Judicial Review appeal granted will allow the industry to re-open an important court result that has remained central to all plying-for-hire arguments since. The infamous ‘Reading vs Mr Ali’ case.

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KNOWLEDGE STUDENTS

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KNOWLEDGE STUDENTS

The taxi trade must become less like a ‘secret society where earning potential is a mystery’ if it is to entice more people to become licensed London taxi drivers in the future, says current Knowledge of London (KoL) students. TaxiPoint caught up with Luke and Craig to learn about what made them take on the KoL and what more could be done from a student’s perspective to entice more people on to the KoL. In November 2019 the number of candidates studying the KoL at the testing stages, otherwise known as ‘Appearances’, dropped below 1,000 for the first time and stood at 943. In addition, there were 714 candidates that had not yet reached the testing stages, but were signed on to the KoL and learning the capital’s road network. Fast forward nearly two years to August 2021 and the number of KoL candidates at the testing stages tumbles further to just 552, and alarmingly only a further 363 candidates are currently waiting to reach the testing stages. Knowledge student Luke said it was his father’s influence that prompted him to start the Knowledge. Luke said: “My Dad is a cabbie currently and he has always tried to get me to do it, telling me how much he enjoys it and how it would benefit my life.

“He tried to get me to do it with him when he was studying the Knowledge about 12 years ago after he had got an injury playing cricket for the Metropolitan Police, but I turned it down. How I regret that decision now! “My decision behind doing it now is that I have two young boys and my current job means I can stay away in hotels all over the country from time to time sometimes for 2 or 3 nights a week. To be honest I am a bit fed up of that and want to be able to spend more time with my family. “I spoke to my Dad again and asked is it still worth doing and his answer was “absolutely”, and speaking to my dad he can never speak highly enough of the job, so here I am studying it.” Fellow Knowledge student Craig also wanted greater flexibility for family life. He said: “I want a role where I have flexibility around family life where I can also earn a decent living and do something that will set a good example to my children; that you don’t get anything in this life without having to earn it. “I have a couple of friends that are Green Badge holders and they both tell me they have the best job in the world and I believe them. I envisage having to put the hours in to get the rewards (which I don’t

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KNOWLEDGE STUDENTS mind), but I am looking forward to the interaction with the public, being able to drive around the world’s greatest city amongst the best taxi professionals on the planet… and get paid fairly for doing it.”

a Knowledge School, TfL representative and/or a cabbie could go in and put on a presentation to young people explaining what it is like being a cabbie.”

Luke said: “I do not think many people actually understand what being a cabbie is and what your life can be once you are one. I feel that people only do it because they have been encouraged or know a cabbie and get the idea from that. I feel somehow it needs to be shown to people such as ex-army once they leave as it gives them something to strive towards for example. I also feel it needs to be highlighted to school leavers as an option and maybe

“It’s almost like a secret society where earning potential is a mystery and unless you know someone in the trade, general perception is that the KoL is one of the world’s toughest exams, Uber is taking work away, you’ll have to study hard for a minimum of 3 years and the vehicle you need could set you back £70k. Add into this the negativity that comes from the trade sometimes saying it has no future and of course the well-publicised chaos the pandemic has

Craig also highlighted the need for the industry to be In terms of increasing the number of people training more open and less secretive of the job profile and to become a licensed London taxi driver, the its potential value in terms of earnings. Knowledge students thought more could be done to educate student Craig said: “The KoL is something that would-be candidates of the role, especially from a people only get into by word of mouth in my young career perspective. opinion. Can’t be many jobs like that, right?

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KNOWLEDGE STUDENTS had on taxi drivers. “Who would do a degree for 3 years not knowing their career potential at the end of it, where people within that industry are telling you it’s at the end of its shelf life? This negativity has to be broken!” Craig added: “Tom the Taxi Driver on You Tube is a breath of fresh air, his positive attitude and take on the trade is encouraging to people like me. The perception has to change and the mysteries surrounding earning potential have to be removed otherwise you’ll never entice potential students. “There are lots of people who want to do private hire, so there is clearly a hunger in the public to drive a car and earn. Directing capable drivers towards the KoL rather than this route is key and letting that pool of people know true earning potential would be a key factor, especially at a time

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now where a lot is being made about how poorly paid private hire has become. “This would mean positive PR and dare I say it; advertising the financial and other job benefits of the trade via the right avenues to entice fresh blood in. “Reducing/eliminating the Congestion Charge for KoL students would also be a positive in attracting candidates, but can’t see TfL handing out financial favours to would-be taxi drivers any time soon!”

ARTICLE BY: PERRY RICHARDSON TAXIPOINT FOUNDER

FEATURE ARTICLE

Since the dawn of the hackney carriage and private hire trades, assault, verbal abuse, nonpayment and even sometimes murder, have unfortunately been a regular feature of both trades in some capacity by passengers. Steve Garelick, GMB Regional Organiser, has spoken to TaxiPoint about the possibility of introducing a “NO RIDE LIST”, similar to what we see within the aviation industry with their “NO FLY LIST”. Here’s what Steve had to say….

individuals believe they can act with impunity towards those providing their personal transportation? Over many years I have witnessed the outcomes and theft, including bilking (nonpayment), of assault, murder and bullying from controllers and operators. In some cases, London taxi drivers communicate details of known bilkers and the locations they travel, to warn others, but this is not an exact science and many drivers still get caught out.

Recently I made a call for a noride list for problem or risky passengers.

As a resolution to some of the above I am proposing a register is created to warn and advise We are all accustomed to seeing drivers and operators of the signage ‘We Will Not Tolerate individuals who may pose a risk Abuse Towards Our Staff’ in to drivers. hospitals, doctor’s surgeries and Some may say that individuals retailers, amongst other may use a different name or get locations, so why is it that some friends to book on their behalf,

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FEATURE ARTICLE and there are some solutions that may solve some of these issues. For those who book on behalf of others would find themselves added to the no-ride list under my proposals, just as certain addresses that continually show as high risk to drivers.

I have current proof of this when trying to see prosecutions on a driver’s behalf, or seeing a mounting amount of fictitious claims against drivers that are born out of an attempt to save the cost of a fare. Action against those who make fictitious claims, seems to never come to fruition.

Such a list would be available to drivers and operators. In my opinion, the private hire industry also sees bullying and threatening behaviour from controllers Just as the insurance industry holds a database of and operators. When this is encountered, I believe drivers to compare claims and driving history, I believe that the perpetrators should be reported to the this is quite a reasonable notion. relevant licensing authority. Fit and Proper works both For years the police and courts have often done little ways. to assist drivers who have found themselves victims of In closing I would say I am not entirely sure where the issues discussed here. administration would sit for such a database, but the discussion must start and a solution would be of value In a previous survey GMB undertook it became clear that many drivers do not bother to report assault, non- to all. payment, or other criminal behaviour because they do Drivers deserve to be as safe as anyone going about not want to lose time and money waiting to report their daily work and we must do all we can to make crime and even if they do often the police say it is that a reality. difficult to prove.

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INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS

The taxi trade, and as a result the Taxi Butler service, relies on solid demand within the Tourism and Leisure industry to generate bookings for drivers and operators throughout the year globally. After a difficult period for everyone associated with the taxi industry, due mainly to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been early signs of a fast recovery when the industry is free of social restrictions. TaxiPoint asked Will Nash, Director of Marketing at Taxi Butler and Driver Bubble, what his predictions were for 2022 in terms of demand in the taxi sector. Nash said: “I’ve looked at the numbers for various types of venues (hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, casinos and airports) since July, and it’s safe to say that things are looking very encouraging for the industry globally. “On average, venues have seen a 22.08% growth in bookings since July this year which means more and more people are returning to their previous lifestyles, connecting with friends and family, and travelling for business. It’s a breath of fresh air to feel that things are picking up again, not only for the taxi companies but also for some of their largest key accounts. One type of venue that we can see is thriving is nightclubs, and they’ve seen a 42.22% increase in taxi bookings from July to October.

“With nightclubs having been shut for so long, we can only imagine the relief for them to be up and running again. Alongside nightclubs, airports have also seen a considerable boost in activity, with almost 38% more taxi bookings in that same period.” With the expected increase in demand to continue into 2022 Taxi Butler are looking to establish recently developed products into the taxi and private hire industry in the year ahead too. Will added: “We’re always looking for new ways to innovate and connect taxi fleets even better. Alongside our existing initiatives, like RedRoute, Driver Bubble, and 20test, we’re striving to bring new features and improvements to our existing products. Image credit: Taxi Butler

WILL NASH

Director of Marketing at Taxi JANUARY 2022 - Edition 33 Butler and Driver Bubble

INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS “We’ve recently developed the Taxi Butler PRO 3, a new and improved version that facilitates more advanced taxi bookings from venues. Our product team has developed methods for passengers to track their bookings by scanning a QR code on the screen of the Taxi Butler PRO 3 and being directed to a webpage where they can see the estimated time of arrival, driver details and vehicle information. As well as this, it allows venue staff to input passenger information like name and phone number, add a destination and choose from predefined vehicle types set up by the taxi company. The PRO 3 is fully integrated with and available for taxi companies using iCabbi, Autocab, SmartMove, and a few other European -based dispatch systems. We’re working closely with other dispatch systems to develop integrations for the PRO 3.

Taxi Butler ONE as an ‘Internet of Things’ device. We’ve investigated how to re-engineer the device to request an area to be cleaned, send an order to replenish stocked items in warehouses, or ask for medical assistance. You can find out more about this project over at bt.tn.”

“As part of our vision that people worldwide are connected to themselves and each other, we’ve been exploring how we can use the

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TAXI MOTORING

A yellow box junction Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued to a taxi driver has caused online debate and sparked the sharing of a wider range of tips and hints on what cabbies should be looking for if fined in similar scenarios.

the PCN, fellow cabbies alerted the driver to a little-known rule when it comes to box junction fines.

According to one well respected cabbie and trade representative, Heather Rawlinson, who has helped The London taxi driver shared a hundreds of other drivers with picture of his cab picking up PCN appeals, the driver was passengers on Ludgate Hill in NOT committing an offence. the City of London just a few According to Rawlinson, the hundred yards from St Pauls person must not cause a vehicle Cathedral. Asking for help and to enter the box junction so advice as to whether to appeal that the vehicle must stop within the box junction to the presence of stationary vehicles. It is argued that because the image shows no other vehicles were blocking the exits, there were no stationary vehicles, so the cabbie stopped to pick up. Many cabbies responded and were surprised by the littleknown rule, which does potentially allow cabbies to onboard passengers on junctions with clear exits.

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TAXI MOTORING What is a Yellow Box junction and why are they used? Yellow box junctions are found in most cities and are indicated by criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road. They are usually found at the junction of two or more roads and occasionally at roundabouts or outside fire and ambulance stations. A yellow box junction does not require any other signage. Yellow box junctions, loading bays and red routes are usually put in place to keep traffic on the roads flowing. Some junctions have raised millions in revenue, much to the frustration of motorists.

What other things should I be looking for on a Yellow Box junction? Motorists may enter a yellow box junction when the exit is clear and there is enough space on the other side of the junction for their vehicle to clear the box completely without stopping. Drivers can stop in a yellow box junction when turning right if they are prevented from turning by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right. It’s important that motorists do not simply follow the vehicle in front as it may stop and prevent the motorist’s exit. This is likely to lead to PCN. It’s also important to not let other drivers pressure fellow motorists to enter the box when a clear exit is not available.

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GUEST FEATURE

ARTICLE BY: A Growing Problem Taxi and private hire drivers often find themselves in the therapist's chair for their passengers. Research from FREE NOW has shown that 20% of passengers vent to their driver as a form of free therapy. Passengers revealing all to drivers is nothing new, but driver mental health is something that’s talked about much less. The same research revealed that 75% of drivers have experienced deteriorating mental health because of the pandemic. Considering how badly the industry has been hit this is probably no surprise. But it is concerning to see that nearly half of these drivers don’t know where to turn when their mental health is suffering.

It’s well known that taxi and private hire drivers face a combination of factors that can contribute to poor mental health. Shift work, low pay, threats of violence and racism all have an impact. Driving is also a male-dominated industry. 93% of taxi and private hire drivers are male. Traditionally, research has shown that workers in these industries struggle to deal with problems relating to mental health more than those in other professions. Combined with a loss of work due to the pandemic, drivers are experiencing arguably the toughest time on record. Driver mental health is a growing epidemic. They are often reluctant to seek help from their GPs for fear that they may lose their licence.

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GUEST FEATURE Mental health and licensing Licensing authorities will assess a driver’s mental health against the DVLA’s Group 2 medical guidelines. Looking at the guidance, most mental health issues are unlikely to cause a driver to lose their licence. When it comes to anxiety and depression, GPs assess whether the condition causes ‘significant memory or concentration problems, agitation, behavioural disturbance or suicidal thoughts’. Severe cases of ill mental health are likely to prompt further investigation before any decision is made regarding a licence. This is true for both driving and taxi/private hire licences. Further investigations can include a further medical assessment, a driving assessment or test and in some cases consultations with independent medical specialists. It is important to note that being on medication for a mental health issue doesn’t usually disqualify someone from being licensed. According to DVLA guidance ‘effects of severe illness are of greater importance for their relevance to driving than medication’.

•

Persistently sad or tearful.

Having someone to talk to can make all the difference to someone suffering from mental health issues. However, it’s important that you don’t force your help on them or begin to act differently towards them. This can actually make them feel more isolated. Sometimes it’s the simple acts of kindness that are most effective. Things like picking them up a coffee, or buying lunch can go a long way to help.

More information If you need support with your mental health, below are just some of the resources available: •

Hub of Hope (A location-based search engine for mental health services)

•

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

•

NHS Mental Health.

If you need urgent support you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or contact Crisis Text Line by texting SHOUT to 85258.

In the January edition of our What time you on Spotting the signs ‘til? podcast, we will be discussing driver mental If you’re concerned that a friend, family member or health in more detail. colleague is suffering silently with mental health Hosts, JP and Ryan, will problems, there are symptoms that you can look out be speaking to industry for: safeguarding expert • Becoming very withdrawn Rachael Bishop about what drivers can do to • More irritated or angry help protect their mental health. • Can't sleep or sleeping a lot more •

Feeling of exhaustion

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Loss of appetite

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A sense of hopelessness

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Little interest or pleasure in doing things

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Aches, pains or other physical problems

•

Being easily distracted or confused, including lapses in memory

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ARTICLE BY:

TaxiPlus help deliver online pre-licensing solutions. You can drop them an email to hello@taxiplus.co.uk to learn more.

VEHICLE

Image credit: Car ‘n’ Cab

As the UK taxi industry takes its first steps into the world of electric motoring, the choice of vehicles available to hackney cabbies remains somewhat limited. However, north-west taxi firm Car ’n’ Cab has released a new model that fits the bill for cleaner and greener journeys throughout the UK. The fully Electric Vehicle (EV) Plug-in self-charging hybrid Ford E-Cabbi.

Accessible Vehicle (WAV), but is ideal for contract non-wheelchair work and drivers licensed in authorities that do not require WAV taxis. The cab does have a handy buggy restraint design option.

Drivers can choose a distinctive looking taxi that can seat between six and seven passengers comfortably in a number of seating configurations. Eyebrows will be raised at the fully electric driven taxi that can achieve up to 315 miles per day combined.

There are other safety features which includes four yellow grab handles, side step extension and LED lighting and additional door handles.

Licensed cabbies can enjoy the M1 permanent screen that separates the passenger and driver cabins. The vehicle is not set up as a Wheelchair

The modern taxi has LED lighting, intercom, sided floating non-slip floor, additional pay area lighting and other mood lighting. The taximeter connected lighting provides a purpose built feel too.

The Ford E-Cabbi’s list of features also includes a rear door opening sign and rear spoiler, plus luggage area door locking. Car ‘n’ Cab are selling the Ford E-Cabbi from £46,495 inc VAT.

JANUARY 2022 - Edition 33 Image credit: members.parliament.uk (CC by 3.0)

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VEHICLE

If someone asked you ‘what is the correct way to three-year charge an electric taxi or vehicle?’ - would you know trial was the right answer? complete and This is what worried Alex Johns from Altelium, when yet the batteries the Government announced it would invest £11 were still at million into new EV charging infrastructure. He is 82% State of concerned that people don’t know enough about Health. their cars and how to charge them properly. He says this could have a huge impact on our wallets and our The most environment if we don’t learn the facts soon, and is basic calling for a public awareness campaign around EV measure of charging. battery health is a Alex was one of the first people in the UK to operate calculation of the range of the battery when fully a fleet of electric vehicles, managing the Tesla taxi charged, compared to its range when it was brand fleet from Gatwick airport. The Teslas he managed for Gatwick had driven 300,000 miles each when the new. On this basis, the batteries under Alex’s charge remained in good health.

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VEHICLE Alex knows about batteries from both the practical and the theoretical point of view because he now works for Altelium, a company which specialises in battery data, health, insurance and warranty.

drivers or those doing high mileage. For example mileage coverage could be increased from perhaps 100,000 miles over eight years to 200,000 over the same period, which is a very significant difference.

Altelium takes real time battery data, enhances it Caring for your battery with AI, and then triangulates or checks this data through testing laboratory battery twins at Lancaster In terms of caring for a vehicle battery, the most important point is to know its chemistry. “Few EV University, and this video explains the process. drivers are aware that electric cars have different battery chemistries, which affects how they should be charged and used to optimise their lifespan. Battery chemistry can vary even between different version of the same model of a brand, such as the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range + (LFP prismatic batteries) and Long Range (NCA cylindric batteries),” Alex explains.

This information makes it possible for the company to offer insured warranties on electric batteries which complement the original manufacturer’s warranty. This will be especially important to taxi

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The most common battery cell chemistries are lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), and lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Depending on the chemistry, the following are the key steps to increasing the life and residual of your battery if you are a high mileage taxi or private hire driver: •

Avoid fast charging too often (not more than 30% or your charging over the long term, although you may have to fast charge more on any particular day if you are on a long journey)

•

“Rest” the battery once a week (at least 4 continuous hours neither driving nor charging, at a moderate State of Charge)

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Ensure the battery is fully charged once a week (only for LFP batteries)

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Avoid using the top 10% or bottom 10% of your State of Charge (except when doing the weekly charge to 100% for LFP)

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Always drive in “Eco” or “Chill” mode.

VEHICLE extending engine, but in general all the options tend to have just enough range to be viable, but not What should owner-drivers look for when enough to be comfortable without the option to topconsidering their next vehicle, assuming their choice up charge during a shift. will be a pure electric vehicle?

Choosing your next EV taxi

There are, in Alex’s experience, four key requirements for an owner-driver when looking at an all-electric car to use as a taxi: purchase price, range, passenger space and boot space. Three passengers need to fit in the back comfortably, and the vehicle must be able to travel at least 200 miles between Image credit: Mark Twyman charges when fully laden. Drivers operating between If you are a taxi driver who can use saloon style cities or airports will also need to have good boot vehicles there are good options on the market: the space for luggage, which rules out many cars that Tesla models Y and 3 (as ordered by Uber), the VW don’t fit enough luggage. ID4 (as ordered by Addison Lee), the Hyundai IONIQ In terms of purpose built electric hackney carriage 5, the KIA EV6, Polestar 2, Ford Mustang Mach-E, fleets, LEVC, Mercedes Vito/Viano and Nissan with Volvo XC40 Recharge, the MG 5 EV and more will its Dynamo 200 all have superb passenger space come on stream soon. The MG 5 EV has slightly less being purpose-built for the task. The range question range than the others but according to Alex is by far is complicated by LEVC having a petrol range the cheapest and has the best boot space for a taxi.

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NEW TECHNOLOGY

gaining momentum this year. We are cautiously optimistic about the potential benefits this kind of technology will bring for road and passenger safety.”

BMW’s HUD for the iX range A brace of ambitious new developments in the electric vehicle space and a clutch of smart safety solutions headline this year’s nominations for the 2022 What Car? Innovation Award. Among those vying for the coveted title this year is BMW’s impressive Head-Up Display for its new iX range, Hyundai’s clever Blindspot View Monitor, and a step-change in ‘vehicle-to-everything’ (V2X) communication – which enables vehicles to communicate with their environment and each other – from Ford and Vivacity. Also in the running is a pioneering forecourt concept for EV charging stations from British company Gridserve, and a significant innovation in fastcharging technology from Hyundai. Matthew Avery, Thatcham Research’s Chief Research Strategy Officer, said: “With the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales on the horizon, the automotive sector continues to respond with a wealth of innovations to help pave the way for the successful adoption of electric vehicles. “Developments in Assisted Driving technology and refinements in the Human-Vehicle Interface are also

The What Car? Innovation Award honours automotive companies that have pushed the boundaries of vehicle technology or significantly refined existing solutions to make driving easier, safer and kinder to the environment. The winner and two runners-up, to be selected by a panel of experts from Thatcham Research and What Car? soon.

Nominations for the 2022 What Car? Innovation Award: BMW for its HUD for the iX range A cleverly designed Head-Up Display system for the iX range, BMW’s newest battery-electric SUV. HUD screen projection now features virtual signage, directional indicating and vastly-improved usability. Combines touchscreen and dials for ease of use. Matthew Avery said: “Head-Up Displays are nothing new but BMW’s latest system takes the technology to the next level in terms of functionality, vehicle interface and clarity. Developers have worked hard to ensure the system is not too invasive, and it scored top marks in the What Car? Distraction Test in 2021.”

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NEW TECHNOLOGY infrastructure, and the sense that EV motorists are an afterthought in terms of the quality and location A joint project between Ford and a UK Governmentof facilities. Bringing the forecourt concept to EV funded consortium, which includes AI sensor motoring is exactly the type of innovation that will specialists Vivacity. This project collects and analyses drive wider EV adoption. And impressive capacity driving data from connected vehicles, roadside will make it easier for EV motorists to get a charging sensors, news reports and local authorities. This slot when they need it most.” enables motorists to plan safer journeys, predict hazards and hotspots, and even highlights granular Hyundai for its Blindspot View Monitor details such as unrepaired potholes or badly placed A visionary innovation that uses rear and side-facing signs. cameras to draw attention to blind spots by

Ford and Vivacity for its RoadSafe project

Ford and Vivacity’s RoadSafe project

displaying footage on the in-car, dashboardmounted monitor when indicators are activated. Blind spot footage enhances and encourages use of standard glass mirrors without replacing them.

Hyundai’s Blindspot View Monitor Matthew Avery said: “The future is V2X technology, where connected vehicles communicate with each other and the road infrastructure. RoadSafe is a significant project with the potential to improve road safety. We were also impressed by its collaborative approach, with Oxfordshire County Council, Loughborough University and Transport for London also involved.”

Gridserve for its All-Electric Forecourts

Matthew Avery said: “Monitor footage used in conjunction with glass mirrors gives you superior situational awareness by drawing attention to your blind spot. And it reminds motorists to use their mirrors, which is good news for cyclists and pedestrians. Hyundai plans to democratise the technology by installing BVM on most of its new cars.”

A pioneering forecourt concept exclusively for EVs launched in Essex, with a further 100 sites planned Hyundai for its Fast Charging across UK. Each site offers up to 36 covered charging Hyundai’s E-GMP Platform for its IONIQ 5 range uses stations, shops, eateries, airport-style lounges and an in-vehicle, 800-volt battery system to offer faster business facilities. Fast-charging and tech support charging, increased driving range and better also available. handling. Matthew Avery said: “One of the main barriers to EV Matthew Avery said: “Improvements in chargingadoption is a perceived lack of charging point technology have significantly reduced charging times for EV vehicles. Hyundai’s innovation, however, puts fast-charging capability inside the vehicle itself. This next-level development further reduces downtime and improves charge-point availability, which will ultimately encourage more people to adopt EVs.”

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Gridserve’s All-Electric Forecourts

TAXI DRIVING SKILLS

ARTICLE BY:

Whatever your driving experience, role or employee status it never hurts to go that extra mile and ensure you have all the essential skills needed for staying focused and keeping safe whilst travelling on the roads. Never more so for taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers who have a duty of care to passengers and spend the majority of their workday on the roads. Taxis and PHV’s are vital to our communities; whether it’s the iconic black cab in our cities or the flexible minicab in a rural district. It’s crucial these drivers adhere to the highest driving standards whilst they transport people quickly and safely through the local area, particularly when they play an important role in the night-time economy, ensuring the public return home safely.

If you’re a licensed taxi driver who is ‘plying for hire’ or carrying passengers would a road safety skills boost be of benefit? We are going to take you through some of the benefits of becoming a recognised advanced driver.

Why take your existing driving to the next level? Nobody is born a great driver – behindthe-wheel skills need to be learned and then honed. As a taxi or PHV driver, your personal driving skills will impact the safety and wellbeing of customers using your service and, as a result, influence just how successful your business is.

IAM RoadSmart assessments practice Taxi and Private Hire Assessments can specific skills at an advanced level, better equip drivers when it comes to including control, observation, timing, everyday skills – especially as we adapt to optimum road positioning and how best changing roads and customer behaviours. to deal with unpredictable roads and other road users’ behaviour. This is vital While traffic issues, congestion charges when taxis and PHV’s are relied heavily on and dealing with a variety of customers by some of the most vulnerable people are daily challenges, by improving their current driving skills could be a real bonus within the community. to taxi and PHV drivers, whether that’s for As part of the assessment by IAM business and leisure. RoadSmart, we will assess your driving

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TAXI DRIVING SKILLS skills and provide you with the necessary accreditation to become a professional, able and safe taxi and PHV driver. Further benefits include: • • • •

• •

which may still be ongoing. And, of course, there may be temporary road layout changes, too, such as pop-up cycle lanes and wider pavements.

Especially important for airport runs or for passengers wanting to get to meetings or Expert tuition in your own car appointments on time. If they are booking in advance know your route, alternatives Reduce driving risk and if there are issues. Planning ahead Reduce fuel consumption / wear and could be the difference between a stressed tear driver and passenger and even a repeat Enhance your driving style booking. Awareness and knowledge

Regular tips and advice to keep your skills up to date.

Before you accept that next fare, IAM RoadSmart is on hand with some useful tips and guidance to ensure the safety of you and your fellow passengers.

Managing distractions: keep your eyes on the road

Make sure there's nothing loose in the car that can roll around. Put your phone in the glove box but don't turn it off (in case it's needed in an emergency) - use a ‘do not Pre-journey checks: preparation disturb’ mode if possible. If you must take a brief hands-free call, limit it to, “I’ll call is everything you when I can park safely”. And ask Before you set off, check your car or passengers to be quiet if you need to motorbike. Has it got fuel? Is the tyre concentrate. Don't turn your head to check pressure correct? Is the windscreen clear? on a child in the back. If you're upset, Take a moment to familiarise yourself with glance in the mirror to check there's the dashboard and controls, too. A good nothing badly wrong. If they are distressed, way to remember all of this is from the talk to them then pullover when it's safe. acronym POWDERY - Petrol, Oil, Water, Damage, Electrics, Rubber, and finally Respecting other road users: Yourself (make sure you have the right sharing space responsibly gear and the right mindset). Everyone has been using the road Plan your trip: avoid differently in recent months and may struggle to adapt to busier roads. Watch unnecessary delays out for the pedestrians who may be less For long journeys, check your route on a aware of motorised traffic, and who are travel site such as Traffic England, Traffic stepping into the road to maintain a safe Scotland, Traffic Wales and TrafficWatchNI distance from each other. More people are for up-to-the-minute alerts about delays cycling now, some of whom may be and roadworks. Check for local inexperienced. Take great care when information, too. Some councils have taken overtaking cyclists (and, on country roads, advantage of less traffic being on the roads horse riders) - give them at least 1.5 to enable them to carry out roadworks, metres or as much room as you would a

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TAXI DRIVING SKILLS car and reduce your speed significantly for horses.

Driving in towns: navigating a new urban network As well as pedestrians, city roads will see you encounter high concentration of vehicles on roads that contain plenty of obstructions and hazards: parked cars, delivery drivers, buses. We all need to be even more vigilant than before. You really don't want to drive into the back of a car in front at low speed.

Managing speed: keep a steady pace Be aware of your speed - don't assume you know exactly what 20mph feels like. Look out for speed limit signs around you and look ahead. If you're in a 30mph zone and see a 20mph sign, ease down your speed before you reach the sign - you may not even need to use the brakes. If there is a vehicle behind, then you may want to apply the brakes gently so the driver can see you're slowing down. Remember, brake lights come on before the brakes, so by applying the pedal very gently you can activate the lights but not the brakes. When travelling on faster roads, use technology such as speed limiters if your vehicle has them.

lane? When you see a red ‘X’ over a lane on a gantry sign, move out of that lane as soon as you safely can. Never move into another lane unless you have sufficient breaking space from the vehicle in front. If someone's driving too close behind you, don't begin to creep forward. If they persist, pull into the lane on your left when safe to do so.

Countryside driving: handling the road less travelled Over the last 18 months people have been enjoying the quieter country roads, so watch for an increased number of walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. Farmers in their tractors have also got used to having the roads themselves, so may be less aware of other road users. Tree and hedge growth may have obscured signs, and even if you know the road, new potholes may have appeared with the change in weather conditions.

Managing overtaking: balance your judgement and speed First, ask whether you really need to overtake. If a vehicle is travelling at 50mph in a 60mph zone, is it essential to get past? Almost certainly not. Of course, there are times when you encounter slow moving vehicles such as tractors, then you need to plan so you can overtake safely. Check you have plenty of room ahead, so you don't force the vehicle you are overtaking to brake after you've passed. Also, you must ensure nothing's coming up behind you.

Parking and manoeuvring: take time over the basics Motorway driving: use your skills on major routes Cooperate with other motorway users. If you can, move safely into the second lane to give space to those joining the motorway. Be aware of what type of motorway you're driving or riding on. Is it a smart motorway where a hard shoulder is in use as a traffic

Check in advance that you'll be able to park at your destination or, better still, see if you can reserve a space beforehand. If you haven't had to manoeuvre your vehicle in a tight spot for a while, practise with empty parking spaces either side of the first.

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TAXI TAX

A new study from untied, a personal accountancy tax app firm, has revealed a widespread concern amongst local authorities around the implementation and management of the conditionality taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) tax checks that are due to be introduced in April 2022.

“I am concerned that we may lose more drivers from the trade which will compound the significant reduction in licensed drivers who are actively working in the trade at the moment. Many licence holders have found other employment during the pandemic and have not returned to the trade.”

Over eight in ten say they believe that taxi and PHV operators, as well as drivers, should be preparing in advance of the forthcoming changes, but almost two thirds (73%) say that they are not confident that all operators in their area are aware of these checks.

All of the authorities surveyed by untied are aware of the introduction of conditionality and are actively preparing in one form or another. Almost a quarter (22%) are now saying that they felt ‘very prepared’ for this change. This figure is still relatively low but much Due to come into force in April 2022, conditionality is higher than when they were first surveyed in July (9%). Over half (52%) still remain only ‘somewhat a significant new legislation that will require all selfemployed taxi and PHV drivers to pass a ‘tax check’ to prepared’ (compared to less than 20% in July). renew their operational licence. If this isn’t done, the Nonetheless, local authorities are generally feeling licensing body will be unable to consider the licence less informed about specific areas such as: application and the applicant will no longer be • The changes in general and their obligations as a licenced to operate. local authority (35% compared with 23% in July) According to untied, one of the local authorities said:

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TAXI TAX •

smoothly by introducing special guidelines for what Their responsibility to confirm that applicants understand their tax obligations (41% compared to do if an HMRC failure causes a problem. Other stakeholders need to ensure they have plans in place with 24% in July) to help mitigate any problems and untied can help • The implications of a failed check preventing with this - using technology to make the process as the renewal of a licence (45% compared with streamlined as possible. We have written to HMRC to 23% in July). outline potential issues and we are speaking to local Kevin Sefton, CEO of untied, said: “With just three authorities and taxi operators about developing months to go until the introduction of conditionality, bespoke solutions to limit risk. the clock is quickly ticking down on the time left to prepare for these changes from April 2022. Let’s be in no doubt these are significant changes. It’s a huge undertaking that’s costing HMRC at least £9 million. Around 400,000 businesses will be impacted in the first 12 months. Local authorities in England and Wales will have a significant new role recording the outcome of these tax checks on their systems. HMRC “We know these checks are coming at a tough time estimates it will cost local licensing authorities at least for taxi drivers and the industry, but with advance £1.5 million to change their systems and processes to planning and support we hope that local authorities and the industry can quickly integrate these checks cope with these rules. into business as usual.” “HMRC is already planning for things not going

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EDITORIAL FEATURE

Firstly, I would like to thank each and every one of you for supporting us throughout 2021, I think it’s fair to say it’s been a year to forget, yet one we will never. Being a taxi driver myself, I’ve seen the industry plummet and rise without much warning, leaving me, quite honestly, in limbo, not knowing if I would make it through the financial downturn which we have all had to battle.

Will 2022 kick-off with more restrictions? Will we see another full lockdown? Me, personally, I hope not. The weeks and months are flying by, I just don’t want another year to flash by just for us all to be in the same position in 12 months’ time.

But whatever 2022 has in store for us, I will say, stay focused, stay committed to your craft and trade, and know that if we’ve managed to get through what we already have, surely we are made of tougher stuff Our industry is built on a thriving atmosphere; people than we may have possibly thought? out and about, that buzzing feeling around town, I’m entering the new year with a positive mindset people smiling, laughing and partying. 2021 was believing the trade is ready to spring back into life – anything but. Staying motivated to get up and jump we’ve already seen snippets of this in recent months behind the wheel of my taxi was difficult, as I’m sure – and we’ll all be back moaning about the traffic and it has been for many of you. Grafting, I don’t shy passengers who are a little worse for wear – how I away from, but sitting in a cab for hours on end with miss that! no fares, well that’s a challenge for even the hardest So, 2022 is of workers. well and truly I have seen a number of friends and foes within the trade turn to alternative means of income, with many not returning to the trade yet, maybe never, who knows?

here… so are we… let’s attack it with a positive attitude and Working on TaxiPoint has helped focus the mind, good vibes (as making sure you have informative content to read has kept us all at the publication busy, so once again I the youngsters say). thank you, the readers, because without you, we wouldn’t have a publication which has grown hugely since we began. Balancing cab life with the editor’s life is not easy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, I just hope the taxi industry is given the opportunity to grow to what it should be and thrive once again.

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ARTICLE BY:

MICHAEL MURPHY TAXIPOINT EDITOR AND PARTNER

GLOBAL NEWS

All taxi and ride-hailing drivers are now required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to continue operating in South Australia after the Government announced new measures.

This does not include Passenger Transport Workers who work at or from airports as they must already be vaccinated under government rules.

At this time, they must also have received or have evidence of a booking to receive a second dose.

Government requesting that drivers are financially supported during any period in which they are unable to work whilst waiting for a 2022 vaccination. JANUARY - Edition 33

All taxi and ride-hailing drivers must provide the entity The announcement caused uproar from some drivers which makes their bookings from members of the and industry unions who say drivers who are not yet public with proof of their vaccination status on vaccinated will now lose earnings until they fall in-line request. For example, if a person works for a taxi or and get vaccinated. ride share company they must supply their status to "Passenger Transport Workers" were required to have that company. at least one dose of a TGA approved vaccination by 3 Passenger Transport Workers must also provide the January 2022, previously this was required by 20 operator of their service with proof of their December 2021 but was extended to give drivers vaccination status on request. more time. The Trade Workers’ Union has written to the

GLOBAL NEWS New York City are set to invest $420 million as it looks to convert its whole fleet of taxis to electric vehicles by 2035. The original target was 2040, but this has been brought forward five years after President Biden signed an executive order directing the US federal fleet to transition to electric vehicles. New York’s taxi industry is now ready to commit in a similar fashion by setting this new timeline goal.

Residents of the United Arab Emirates second most populous city can now book a driverless taxi on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. Riders are able to book a journey through the TXAI app. Although the cars are autonomous, a safety officer sits behind the wheel to intervene in case of an emergency. Currently the vehicles are limited to transport passengers to 9 set locations around the Island.

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Robo-taxis are set to hit the roads of Munich after a project involving vehicle rental supplier Sixt, Israeli autonomous driving technology company, Mobileye and Chinese manufacturer Nio, was announced. The taxis are due to be tested in the Greater Munich area before entering the regulated market. A launch date is set for some time in 2022.

Image credit: MOBILEYE

WORLD TAXI FEATURE

Welcome to part SEVEN of our ongoing series of global taxis. We continue looking at the world’s most distinctive looking cabs outside of the iconic black taxi we see and love in most big UK cities. Budget Direct have released a new series of

illustrated posters, showcasing different taxis from every country. We continue to run through the A-Z of the 57 most iconic taxis. In this edition we look at Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar and Romania.

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WORLD TAXI FEATURE

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TRAINING

ACCOUNTANTS

FINANCE

INSURANCE We have been arranging specialist insurance since 1989, and have become a one stop shop for all your taxi insurance needs. We offer exclusive rates from a panel of leading insurers, tailored to your exact needs. Click here for a quote or more information.

At mymoneycomparision.com, we have a proven track record of working with taxi insurance specialists. We help you source and compare cheap taxi insurance cover, which suits your business needs. Get your quote by visiting: www.mymoneycomparison.com/taxi-insurance

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BUY, RENT OR REPAIR A TAXI

APPS

COMMS

Challenger provide fleet management trackers, cameras and integrated software to access vehicle location, record driver behaviour, optimise your route planning and take advantage of fuel cost savings. Challenger provides business mobiles backed up with award-winning support, and with its market leading app you can keep your drivers safe with lone worker protection.

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CLAIMS

EMISSIONS SYSTEMS HJS HJS are Europe's leading manufacturers of emission reduction systems for commercial vehicles. Retrofit your taxi to meet EURO VI standards. For more information visit the website by clicking here or phone 01344 566050.

MEMBERSHIP

CARD PAYMENTS

TAXI SCREENS

The FixiCover Driver Shield is an in-car partition that separates drivers from their passengers and serves as a sneeze guard. Find out more here.

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