...UNITE VIEWPOINT
follow. I was of the belief that conditions and suchlike should always be ‘reasonable’ and ‘necessary’. I question both the neces- sity and the reasonableness (or otherwise) of this guidance in its entirety.
As most will know, we are hopefully extremely close to the Government releas- ing their Statutory Minimum Standards for taxi/PHV licensing in the UK. Another question: Just who on earth do these peo- ple at the IoL think they are, that they can predetermine this and release their own pseudo minimum standards???
Since the national trade spotlight fell upon the antics of the IoL with regard to their Guidance, they released a press release at the start of last month in which they attempt to defend and justify their policies.
They say in respect of the “Seven Penalty Points”, “
...According to official data, at any one time, only 0.27 per cent of holders of driving licences have seven or more points on their licence....” Let’s just take those figures apart: If they are based upon the total number of driving licences issued by the DVLA that are currently ‘live’, then the reference point is fundamentally flawed as it does not take account of ‘dormant’ licences i.e. belonging to those who no longer drive for a variety of reasons but have not bothered to surrender their licence to the DVLA. It also probably doesn’t take account of the hundreds of thousands of expats who live abroad, yet have a current DVLA driving licence. There- fore that figure of 0.27 per cent is meaningless and wholly irrelevant! What is relevant here; is that these ramblings from the IoL will discriminate against cab drivers vis-à-vis other vocational drivers, some with an even higher risk factor attached to them.
The press release goes on to say, “
...Licensed drivers or applicants may also benefit from speed awareness courses rather than having points imposed on every occasion upon which they speed...” Again, this is not only irrelevant, it is factu- ally incorrect, as the criteria operated by each regional police force in relation to attending speed awareness courses differs slightly. Generally, drivers are only able to attend a speed awareness course once every three years, and in any case they are speed dependent and one mph over the threshold precludes the driver from attending them. So once again, their asser- tion here is incorrect!
MARCH 2020 69
Perhaps the comment that made me most cross was, “
...Accordingly, the Institute is not persuaded that it ought to change its guidance in relation to minor offences...” This, folks, I regard as supreme arrogance!!!
A reasonable question here would also be: Who chose (what seem to be) the arbitrary time limits regarding the prevention of re- licensing following the end of the ban - and on what evidence?
“Fit and Proper” – don’t get me started... Finally and once again, who are these peo-
ple who feel that they can “usurp” tried and tested national legislation and who (i.e. which Government department) appointed them???
Angry, who me? Yes!!! Drive carefully.
This article has been supplied by: Sean Ridley Secretary Unite the Union South East Region (Cab Section)
Sean.Ridley@unitetheunion.org
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