Deadline on Friday for NTA submissions.

[john m]

The BIG QUESTION is are the Greens going into Government if so then Millions more going to be spent on Public Transport so expect 24/7 bus service Luas and Rail cant run 24/7 due to noise pollution .Expect busses to tun to drop off points like clondalkin Village or Tallaght with private local link busses subsidised by government to do the lap with passengers going to the local estates .They might even include Taxies with Leap cards and you submit your monthly leap card after hour jobs to the Department of Trans to claim the subsidies .Transport is going to change big time road congestion is costly and environmentally harmfull .

[Shallowhal]

Is that before or after we get off our knees...economically speaking?

[john m]

Is that before or after we get off our knees...economically speaking?

Ryan is a sociopath he will look for his 7% reduction in emissions per annum to join any government .After 100s of Farmers eat their shotguns and they will as Milk and Beef is unsellable China and Brexit has put an end to sales of overpriced over hyped product .Emissions will fall with less cattle on the land .That only leaves transport as the way to reduce emissions .What gets started now will impact us in say 5 to 10 years .I have 10 to go to pension and I intended my taxi to be my pension adding to my state benifit but I doubt a part time taxi service will exist in 10 years as costs for electric vehicles and probably road pricing where you pay to use the roads per KM will make taxi journies uncommunicative against state sponsored modes of transport .Could see a time when your car is allotted free road miles depending how rural you are in relation to the next town or city and after you use up your free miles you have to pay per mile .Bit like your mobile phone package .

[dalymount]

John you asked why does every solution I propose not include me ?   Your wrong there, because this solution I proposed is EXACTLY to include me I'm nearly 66 so therefore it exactly against my age bracket I proposed that we be stopped when we reach 70

[john m]

John you asked why does every solution I propose not include me ?   Your wrong there, because this solution I proposed is EXACTLY to include me I'm nearly 66 so therefore it exactly against my age bracket I proposed that we be stopped when we reach 70

So your only looking for 4 more years how very altruistic of you .

[Rat Catcher]

Have yous been to London/liverpool or New York in a taxi? The cars aren't low mileage immaculate vehicles.They're driven by multiple drivers all around the clock.Only reasonably clean by my standards.You lads think we are a limo service for taxi prices.

You'd have to out of your mind to travel any distance in a New York or London taxi. Use Uber.

[dalymount]

I'm trying to be realistic here. I think 70 is about the right age for drivers to be forced into retirement in this game, but for the customers sake, and the drivers sake

[Rat Catcher]

There should be an annual medical test and the maximum age ought to be the statutory retirement age. During COVID '19 restrictions any driver over 59 or otherwise defined as "at risk" by HSE should have their driving licences temporarily revoked.

[dalymount]

There is no reason taxi drivers should have to work any longer, or more dangerously then anyone else , in any other job. The only way this can be achieved is for us to reverse the trend. There was a time that we were much sought after by the public, and we had their total respect. This was the case because there were not so many of us, and we called the shots. Now the NTA responded to public demand, and then WE were chasing CUSTOMERS. We have to find a way of becoming in demand again, and it can only be through the process of age control. This is a young man's game, and at the moment it is totally unprofessional. I believe it needs uniformaty, and direction on all sides. There is no proper enforcement of the rules on the NTA side, there is total unprofessionalism on the drivers side, and the dept of transport do seem to recognize taxis at all

[dalymount]

I tend to agree with most of what rat says, but I wouldn't put the bar as low as 59 but I would agree with an annual medical being carried out, even though I would probably be the first to go

[Rat Catcher]

Ya'll be alright, DM... it's who you know not how well you are...

[sore]

Have yous been to London/liverpool or New York in a taxi? The cars aren't low mileage immaculate vehicles.They're driven by multiple drivers all around the clock.Only reasonably clean by my standards.You lads think we are a limo service for taxi prices.


Where did all the drivers go?...

This isn't in order or entirely coherant but should give yis an idea.

There's always been lots of churn in the taxi industry.Drivers come and go.

Tougher taxi exam meant those who left after the recession to go back to work in other industries may have lapsed their PSV driver licence.The 250 renewal fee made it expensive to keep as a back up plan.Now they simply aren't able to pass the exam without a lot of work.So don't come back or are unable to pass the exam.

As far as I know(always open to correction) international students can't drive taxis on student visas.They aren't allowed to be self employed.That removed a good few rental drivers instantly.

Also the requirement to maintain tax clearance all year round may have removed some drivers behind on their returns by a few years or the ones on the labour thanks to the driver app.

When I started nearly eleven years ago there were lots of elderly drivers.?Maybe 50/60 years plus.Many who were ex hacks.Many have simply passed away or got too sick or afraid to drive full time.The apps mean they have to do longer hours for less money so they may not be tech savvy enough to move with the times.They're pushing 70 now so it's game over for some.No doubt the ten year rule plays a part but it's not the sole reason.

Quite simply we were losing 500(I think) active driver licences per year at one stage and there weren't even half of that getting through the newer exam.

I'll think of more stuff later but I'm busy..

Insurance cost has been the biggest barrier to entry in the last 2/3 years. Many passed the geography test but could not get get in because of
insurance - i know a who were quoted 10k and gave up.

[mercenary for hire]

You'd wanna to be thick as shit to go to the hassle of passing the harder exam before getting a quote for insurance.Glad they didn't make it.

If they wanted a renter could have gotten them insured for as little as 3k on a block policy.

Just to add I was getting insurance quotes about six months before I bought my plate.Which was about a year before I got on the road.

[dalymount]

Rat firstly I would have no desire to remain beyond 70 years of age (even if I made it to that) and secondly I assure you I don't know anyone of any influence

[stonethecrows]

Don't understand where 70 or any other age is coming from , if your fit, willing and able there should be no problem with you going about your business.

BTW I've a brother 75 years of age and he still driving his Truck !