Bristol Hackney drivers are alarmed at the alleged increase in hackney and private drivers, from other districts, who are operating on the streets of Bristol.
While it’s wholly lawful for drivers who hold licences out with Bristol to operate within the city, providing their fare has been booked prior to collection, local taxi drivers are suggesting that this is not the case. It’s well known within the taxi trade that operating under such circumstances is both illegal and dangerous, as the drivers are not insured to carry passengers.
With tensions increasing and no sign of a resolution, a meeting has been arranged by the Bristol Taxi Association in a bid to address the issues affecting the city.
One local hackney driver, Tim Lloyd, has spoken out against the illegal practise he believes is rife in city.
Mr Lloyd stated: “This is a big issue. It’s not just about our livelihoods, it’s about the safety of the public.”
Testing
Mr Lloyd, a driver for 16 years, and his fellow Bristol cabbies must ensure they pass a local geography test in order to obtain their badge and right to work in the city. However, Mr Lloyd argues of non-Bristol drivers: “These guys are operating on a sat-nav – my sat-nav is in my head. No Bristol taxi driver needs a sat-nat.”
With stricter rules surrounding the MoT test in Bristol, Mr Lloyd also believes that other drivers are simply obtaining their licence from other authorities in a bid to “masquerade as a Bristol taxi.”