roadworthy taxis ?
 

i would love to know who is giving valid MOT certificates to taxis in hynburn because most of teh ones i see shouldnt be on teh road , i nearly got hit by a taxi last night which had 1 headlight out , the other only seemed to be on sidelight and when it had passed there were no lights on at the back at all

thats just one example and i see many more instances every day , i thought taxis were supposed to be kept roadworthy and have 3 MOT tests a year to ensure they are kept roadworthy

also while ime moaning about taxis recently they increased the minimum taxi fare because of teh rise in petrol prices yet petrol has now reduced in price by over 10p a liter so where are the reductions in taxi fares now that petrol is cheaper ?

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

No 1 - That'll be me, but its a good earner

No 2 - Bloody Ginger can't do anything right :D

No 3 - Walking would be alot cheaper then.

Theres no way that they'd reduce prices now, they've had their excuse to put them up and we're gonna ave to live with that!!

On the subject of the taxis not being road worthy, i work in a town centre pub so regulary get taxis home most of the ones i get seem to be ok, but there are some that just dont sound or feel right, u have to cross ur fingers all the way home.

Were u be any chance on Church St when one nearly hit u chav1? I no its a road but really some taxi got thundering down there at night, knowing full well its gonna be full of drunken people walking accross the road.

Just one more thing (U got me on a roll now chav1) the taxi drivers that aren't meters need to set prices coz, my taxi fare home changes every weekend and its always the exact same time and route!!

Phew!! Rant over!!!

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

No it's 2 MOT's a year chav BUT they are very strict with them.

You've seen many instances? Not only do they have the strict MOT's, they also have an Inspector that is out on the roads most nights looking for such defaults on cars and they are ordered off the road immediately and aren't allowed back on to the road til the default has been fixed. He's a bas**d with it too.

You can report taxi's that you think are un-road worthy and any genuine complaint will be investigated.

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Good point Tinkerbelle i've seen the inspectors on a number of occasions. But i've honestly no idea how strict they are with them.

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if my car was in such a state as half these taxis were i would be pulled over and fined heavily with the possibility with points on my license yet no one regulates these taxis and they are supposed to be held up to more scrutiny because they are transporting teh public

lets not forget besides taking drunks home taxis transport children to school etc , speaking of which ive seen taxis pull up at schools and dive off with children stood up on the front passanger seat so that shows how well these new seating laws are been enforced :rolleyes:

i dont use taxis as much as i used to because i passed my test but when they dont have lights working it can be hard to see them coming especialy at the speeds they are doing, i am no angel myself but at least you can see me coming lol

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Actually you will be pleased to know that there is a big crack down on taxi's going on at the moment. Ginger was pulled just this morning and the police went over his car with a fine tooth comb, so yes actually they are cracking down on Taxi's being un-roadworthy.

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Hang on chav! Are you mixing Hyndburn taxi's up with Blackburns? It's a well known fact that Hyndburn has the strictest guidelines for taxi's.

Have you looked at most of the cars? There's a Jag, there was a Lexus, Mercs, volvo's and all the motors have to be under 8 year old.

I really do think it's unfair criticism, these cars are the lively hoods of these fellas, it's in their best interest to keep a good working motor and most do, those who slip through the net soon get reeled in by Mr Inspector.

As for children stood up in taxi's, that's the parents job to make sure they know how to behave whilt travelling in one if it's a personal booking by a parent and the job of the escort if it's a Lancashire County Council booking. You'd be first to be screaming blue murder if your child got a bollocking off a taxi driver!

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I once ordered a taxi from CB at 6am on a sunday morningas i had a coach to meet, when the cab arrived some 15 mins late i got in and asked for my destination, the driver automatically said "it's 4 quid can i have it now" i thought the cheek! then looking around the car i thought summat's not right with this car it probably was ataxi at one point as there was no smoking signs but the general appearance was wrog, it was tatty, dirty and smelt quit bad aswell! also it was a wreck clunking and banging over every speed hump.

We were heading towards the town centre when he told me he needed to fuel up, i said to him he must be joking, already 15 mins late and i had a coach to get on at wich point he just grunted and floored it along blackburn rd , streight through the ped zone at the town hall through the bus station at this point i had to tell him to calm the driving down and asked him what his radio number was...after mentioning that he calmed right down, i went on to ask if he was an unlicensed taxi as i hadn't seen the plate on the rear bumper of he car and if so i was not insured to be carried as a paying customer to thgat he said nothing. After he dropped me off at the bottom of avenue parade i rang CB base and told them what had gone on, to that they replied "nobody from our base has picked up a job fro0m your address" to that i told them what i thought of them and their business, and promised to tell everyone i know to aviod them like thge plague.

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p.s pardon the spelling

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Spud brings up a good point there are some 'dodgey' characters claiming to be taxis especially this time of year there is usually an awarness about it specially for young women revellers [being raped/attacked etc]. ALways book a reputable taxi firm they should be wearing a taxi badge, licence plate with private hire/taxi thingy on, be wary as well as a lot of taxi firms are aware that radio jobs 'could' be hacked theres been a few jobs called out on radio with a specific taxi firm & another firm car turns up to nick the fair - so like owt be vigilant, but on the whole taxi's in the borough are generally ok with no probs but like anything if not right dont go with them call another. If you do get a suspicious one i suggest you get as much deatils & report them as tinks & slinks say as they know the business the inspectors are pretty stringent.

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The new car seat laws don't apply to taxis do they ?

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...... Because it's always easier to blame someone else for your own mistakes :(


If the car has a yellow (Hyndburn) plate then it is licensed, it might not be affiliated to a firm but it will still have had the Council MOT for road worthiness, if it hasn't and the person is working on an old license they would get the book thrown at them if they are caught but it needs vigilante people to report them to actually get caught. Private hire are to affiliate themselves to a firm but Hackney cabs don't have to.

It takes 2 seconds to walk round the back of a car, look down at the plate on the back bumper, if there isn't one there refuse to get in it, it has got to be displayed. Also they have to display yello insurance stickers (similar to firm badges) on the rear passenger doors and yellow stickers in rear passenger windows which displays a phone number if you have any concerns about the vehicle or driver.

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Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

No they dont, or on quick journeys. Although I got a taxi last week and it had a booster seat fitted in, dunno if that was the taxi drivers personal seat or for customers though.

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Re:taxis.

I had to get one this week, from the taxi rank in Church St.

Why aren't they forced to have meters? Every other place in the country where I've caught a taxi from a rank, meters are mandatory.

Another thing that pee's me off is when at your destination you ask 'how much is that please?' and they reply 'how much do you normally pay?'

When I always answer a pound, the negotiation starts in earnest.

HBC please make taxis at a rank have meters please.

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Those who are whinging about taxi's don't know your born!! :D

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I'm not whinging about the excellent and friendly service I get from Ossy Cabs, it's those bloody cowboys at the taxi ranks in town.;)

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Hackney cabs are forced to have a meter, private hire don't.

Hackney cabs carry a white plate on the back, private hire have a yellow plate in Hyndburn. Hackneys also have the Taxi sign on the roof.

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That's what I thought, but all those dodgy Datsuns at the Church Street rank don't have meters, they should have.

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Rind do you mean Church st. were the CB taxis park, they now use Hyndburns old office on the corner Oak st. and Church st. or do you mean the rank that runs along side Bailey's?

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You are right, I mean the rank that runs down the side of Bailey's down to Church St., opposite the chippy, alongside the Church wall.

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

If that's the case report that the hackney cab had no meter.

If you want to report a driver, when the driver has dropped you off at wherever your going look at the back of the cab, on his plate he has a 1-3 digit number unique to the car.

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Thank you, I will do. I have never had a cab from that rank that had a meter. I'd better get a bigger note book.;)

The council should be inspecting them any way. They said they weren't allowed to have blacked out windows then caved into them. Pathetic.

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I think you should all take notice of Tinks, after all her other half has driven me about long enough. I allways use Hyndburn Cars and they have some very good motors on the road, they even have a brand new Merc ferrying people about. By the way Rindi I see you've changed your avatar since I've been away, think the self portrate was much better.

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All new taxi drivers have to attend a 10 week collage course too now, and if they don't attend they don't get their licence simple as.

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Having one in the car and having one switched on are 2 different things though ;)

The reason why they didn't want taxi's having blacked out windows was a legit reason but the cost to the drivers would have been enormous. Some cars are sold with the windows already tinted, it would be extra cost to those drivers that already have tht licensed vehicle on the road to have those windows taken out and clear ones put in.

The only way they can get round it is by telling anyone that wants to license a new vehicle that it can't have blacked out windows before they purchase it.

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I always use CB. I've never had a problem with them & they never try to rip me off. The same journey in a taxi from the rank usually cost £1/£1.50p more than CB.

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

Welcome back. In honour of your return I might change it back, are you only back because you're tagged by the way?:D

Quite agree MThead's firm always gives an excellent service.:)

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

[quote=Tinkerbelle]...... Because it's always easier to blame someone else for your own mistakes :(


To put you streight on this, i did ring the base twice asking where the late cab was, and twice he told me it was on it's way. I have no doubt that the car that was sent came from CB that is the reason i rang them afterwards, so i am not TO blame for ringing a bono-fide company asking for a taxi and the mistakes were not my doing.

p.s. i was running late or i would have walked it into town.:)

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Sorry spud that comment wasn't directed at you in particular.

I hope your not still using the same firm. If you don't want to report it the next best way to hurt them is hit them in the pocket.

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no probs:)

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I got a taxi last night from Oswaldtwistle the white bull - smart car very posh compared to what im normally used to when travelling in a taxi. Dont ask me who the taxi firm was - the barperson rang them. All i know she said it was down the road. Taxi driver was ok with us - when we forgot the cue he turned round and went back for it. Dont know how much it was - was treated by one of the others. So whoever knows who that taxi firm was you got a nice driver and a nice car!

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shillelagh you prob got Hyndburn cars, one of the drivers has a Lexus and one has a Jaguar, i've had them in the past, makes me feel kinda special when I get one of them cars!!

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There is a differance between tinted and blacked out. Most new cars have tinted glass. If people have been attacked in taxi's with blacked out windows, which I think was the reason for the ban, then they should not be allowed. I am sorry if it is a cost to the owner but the Council should not have backed down on that.

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Hyndburn Do Have An Inspector That Do , Do On The Spot Checks And Has The Power To Put These Taxis Off The Road Imediatly ,its His Job To Check Out Any Visable Unroadworhtyness And Do The Nessesary But Your Right Some Of Our Public Vehicals Including The Buses Are In A Terrible State.....................................

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

Maybe hurt more if he hits them in the middle of both pockets :D

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There is more than one inspector for taxi's.There are 4 if I remember,who have the power to inspect at roadside and take you off the road.

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No Rindi I have been laid up for six weeks, you don't feel to much like messing about on the web when your fighting for breath and stuffing yourself with all kinds of pills amd portions. Oh and the new image is a far better likeness, more like the real you

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

Well welcome back, and glad you are feeling better.:)

It wouldn't have been a proper welcome if I hadn't been cheeky to you.;)

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A police officer friend of mine (who has now emigrated), once told me that it is illegal for cars to have blacked out windows. They can be slightly tinted but above a certain degree of tint is classed as illegal. The thing that used to bug him was that although it is illegal to have the windows too dark for driving it is not illegal for car sales establishments to sell those cars or the kits to blacken the windows. There was no comeback on the garage... As we have said many times in this country 'the law is an ass.'
Personally I would report any taxi with blacked out windows.

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Lettie, I always thought you could black out the rear and side windows but not the windscreen.

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Not sure about the side windows, it's a while since I was told this but he worked on traffic and said that the amount of accidents involving cars with these darkened windows had vastly increased. I reckon that he must have told me that about 5 years since..:confused:

Personally I can't afford the windows, a good pair of dark sunglasses will have to do..;) :D

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Taxi = Bad driver, smelly, speeding, over charging, crap chit chat, "he will be there in 1 mintue", toyota corolla/avensis. Thank fcuk ive got a car.

Oh and thanks for this karma comment...

That is a totally unfair generalistion.

Would the person who sent it like to show them selves?

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

we have a ringback service up here when your taxi arrives they ring you to tell you they are here,we also have taxi drivers in suits very smart,but all the taxes have no blacked out windows there not allowed and they too have their cars mot.d every 6 months but its too dear to get a taxi up here,prob because theirs not many taxi ranx i think theirs 3

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Good idea for the ladis who have had a good night on the drink. There was a company set up which was basically taxis for girls. Women drivers and pink cars which had gps tracking so at least it could stop some women being raped. I think it would be a welcome site in the local area.

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:confused: Why? Do you know something I don't? Is there all of a sudden a high number of women being raped by taxi drivers in the area?

As a women I think I can speak from experience when I say if you build up a rapour with a reputable taxi firm and stick with that firm, you get to know and usually end up on first name terms with all the drivers and feel safe enough to travel with them alone.

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The women only taxi firm with the pink cars and female staff is in Preston. I'm sure I saw it on Granada Tonight a week or 2 ago.

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I can understand that, it makes sense in city centres that have a lot of fake cabbies .... but lil owd Accy?? :confused:

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Tinkerbelle for you that maybe fine but for other women they might want some extra reassurance and no im not saying anything of the sort so stop reading into my posts to much please.

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May be, you could be right. I'm just speaking from my experience of using taxi's. The firm I use I would feel totally safe travelling alone with any driver. I would never travel alone in one from a rank or hailed from the street. If we have to get a taxi from the rank, whoever is getting dropped off first takes note of the number on the licence number and a phone call is made to that person when the one travelling the rest of the journey alone has made it home safe.

Is it just your posts that I'm unable to question if I don't agree with them or does that go for everybodies on here?

Re: roadworthy taxis ?
 

can i say something its about taxis and raping i was in a taxi from asda 1 nite and i told him were to take me and he tryed taking me on the tops at the top of willows lane but i managed to convince him that i would ring the police as i had my mobile on me and i dont think all taxis are road worthy as i get many black cabs and thay feel like there gunna snap in half i mean i here all the creaks and moans and groans from the cars im quite glat to get home
please dont bite my head of im just saying from my experience

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People thinking I'm getting on their case it's making me feel uncomfortable posting in this thread now. I'm not having a go at anyone it just sounds like taxi drivers are getting some unfair flack in this thread. There's alot of bloody good lads out there just trying to earn a living like everyone else. Yes you have a minority of rogue ones GET THEM REPORTED!!

Did you report it to the police? If no why not?

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Yes I agree with Tinks. Some people are saying that all taxi's are the same. And quite frankly they aren't.

It's like me saying......

All Builders are Cowboys........

All plumbers are rip off merchants........

All men are B*stards ( oh ok ok I know girls ):D

But seriously not ALL taxi companies are the same. Like Tinks said yes you do get the bad ones, but that goes for anything in this life.

If you get into a taxi that seems ominous..........DON"T GO TO THAT FIRM AGAIN!!!!! I wouldn't have a cowboy builder do some work that I thought was bad, then phone the same company for more work doing!! :confused:

No I would find a decent one and stick with them.......As they say better the devil you know.

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Thanks Rindi

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no i diddnt report it to the police as nothin inparticular happened but if he diddnt beleive me i would of got the police involvedand i diddnt know the taxi number as i jumped in 1 outside asda and diddnt think to look i just wanted to get in the house were i felt safe and i wasnt saying u was having a go at anyone just usualy if ppl post there appinians theres normally an arguement no affence taken i hope

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Ok, fair point I can understand your main concern being to get in doors were you felt safe.

No offence taken chuck :)

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Taxi drivers up here have the standard MOT and the council ones every 6 months even on new cars. The council works on the basis that your average Joe Mac will do 35,000 miles a year and therefore for the safety of the pasengers and others on the road cannot be comprimised. These cars are put through checks so stringent that the cars have to be kept as close to factory delevery condition as possible. There is no leway at all so most drivers would rather be of the road for a couple of days to fix a problem than risk failing the council MOT and having their license suspended.

Unlike 99% of the taxi's I have been in when in Accy, Falkirks' taxis have to run the meter at all times in the allocated price band;

Band 1 £1.60 for the first 800 yards and 10 pence for every 120 yards thereafter. 07:00 - 21:00

Band 2 £2.00 for the first 800 yards and 13 pence for every 120 yards thereafter. 21:00 - 07:00

Band 3 £2.40 for the first 800 yards and 15 pence for every 120 yards thereafter. This is for bank holidays, Christmas and New Year (1st & 2nd up here)