Survey reveals sharp drop in taxis after dark...

[watty]

Survey indicates sharp drop in number of taxi drivers in the evening and night-time

There has been a sharp decrease in the number of taxi drivers working in evenings and at night-time over the past year, according to the results of a new survey.

Research on the taxi industry commissioned by the National Transport Authority shows just 50 per cent of all taxi licence holders reported working 6-8pm at the end of 2022, compared to 59 per cent at the start of the year.  While almost 60 per cent of taxi drivers operated between 8pm and midnight in early 2002, less than half were working during the same period by September/October.  The fall-off was even more pronounced after midnight with only 38 per cent of taxi drivers stating they worked between 12 midnight and 4am at the end of 2022 – down from 51 per cent in February last year.  The situation was even more acute in Dublin where just 35 per cent of taxi drivers in the city said they worked in the hours after midnight.

The results mirror complaints from the public over the past year about difficulties in getting taxis in major cities and towns at night-time.  The findings are part of new research published by the NTA on the taxi industry which conducted surveys among almost 670 drivers plus over 1,000 consumers last September/October.  More than 80 per cent of taxi drivers who currently do not work in the hours after midnight said they had given up working nights including 21 per cent who had ceased night-time shifts in the past three years.  Almost half (48 per cent) cited concerns about their personal safety as the reason for stopping working nights, while 23 per cent said it was for their personal health and 13 per cent said it was not financially worthwhile.  Asked what might encourage them to work nights, 31 per cent of taxi drivers said nothing would persuade them to work night shifts.  Almost 1 in 5 drivers said working such hours was too dangerous and risky but they might consider it if there was better safety and a greater Garda presence on the streets, while 8 per cent said they would work nights for the opportunity to earn more money.

However, a leader of one of the country’s main representative groups for taxi drivers, expressed surprise at the results of the NTA survey.  The National Private Hire and Taxi Association spokesperson, Jim Waldron, said he believed the number of drivers operating at night-time had been relatively static over the past year.  “If anything, I would have thought the situation was improving as late hours are more lucrative for taxi drivers,” said Mr Waldron.  The NPHTA said an advertising campaign run by the NTA last year to attract new entrants into the profession seemed to have been successful, although he expressed concern that very few young people were becoming taxi drivers.  “Many don’t seem to recognise there are a lot of positives about becoming a taxi driver such as being your own boss and working the hours that suit you,” said Mr Waldron.  However, he acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in some older drivers stopping work amid concerns for their health and not returning to the profession once restrictions were lifted.

NTA Links:
Industry & Consumer Research Findings

A confidential telephone survey of SPSV drivers nationwide and an online survey of consumers was carried out in September/October 2022. The surveys aimed to establish the current operating costs for taxi drivers in terms of their vehicle, usage of third-party booking services and the working hours, together with other topical items for the industry. The findings from previous waves of research can be found on the Taxi Statistics and Legislation page of NTA’s website.

Wave 6: September/October 2022
Taxi Driver Survey Presentation (PDF)
Taxi User Survey Presentation (PDF)

[mercenary for hire]

I dunno who these drivers are that answer the surveys.Why would ya want to help NTA by giving them ammunition to increase your competition.Doesnt add up.

Also if yer the type of driver who answers random surveys on the phone you'd probably only be driving for pocket money.600 drivers is only a sample and hardly a great response.

[John m]

A lot of night time jobs are drunk street jobs or High Comission App Jobs .If the NTA want to get more drivers out at night they should bring in their own App Comission Free .As we all must accept Credit Cards they would not handle any cash transactions .A Taxi App run by the NTA would be classed as Infrastructure and not Compete Commercially with other Apps .

You may also remember in the review it was suggested ALL taxis were fitted with on board CCTV and we refused .Dont be surprised if that proposal raises its ugly head again ?In the guise of Driver safety .

[Punter]

Concur John !
 I am out and about from 5 am most mornings -accept any house to what appears to be work -its a decline house to house --no doubt it costs me but 90% of time it works out --cant stand piss heads and cannabis stinking public anymore but that's old age !

[watty]

It might also be that drivers are getting older and there must be a good chunk over 60 yrs of age.  It could be they're easing up a bit with the mortgage paid and the kids self-supporting.  Maybe it suits them to work days hogging a local rank, gossiping with their buddies & doing the occasional job 

[John m]

OR
 Mental health issues .Not referring to anybody in particular but you might find yourself included in here .

Covid was an eye opener .Lads who worked 60 .70,80,hours a week thinking they were great providers .Suddenly realized the household could survive nicely on Covid Coin and they were only fooling themselves bursting their bollox to subsidze adult children and a fancy new car for themselves or herself .

lads who use to escape the Gaff and the Kids and herself by going to work .Reconnected with families they virtually ignored .

Lads who realized they really were only a cash Cow to families that never had much respect for them only their coin .Sitting for months on end with disrespectful kids and partners .


A lot of other jobs and trades suffered from the aftershock of Covid Lockdown so why not taxi drivers ? Lads who carried on like idiots covering 50% off jobs for an App company who got pushed back when the New Normal arrived .Like a lot of Older Workers in other Industries who thought the Job would close down without them suddenly realized they are only a Number irrelevant in the great scheme of things and could be replaced or done without .

No help has been offered to Drivers to deal with Mental Health Issues .The chances are more lads are working days because its less solitary more things happening as opposed to night time work which is depressing for most trades .Didnt hear the NTA or Me Taxi or any Reps saying anything about drivers mental health .


Then you hear no younger Drivers entering the Trade .Why would they .The 9 year non 9 year rule .The Subsidies for some operators over other operators a disjointed public transport system that may or may not put busses on the road 24/7 to compete with you .Rent a Bike,rent a Car possible Rideshare and entry restrictions on certain streets and roads .AI that promises driverless cars .Why would any young person ever consider Taxi Driving as a potential career .

[mercenary for hire]

Yis are giving alot of credibility to a survey of 680 drivers.Almost all drivers eventually end up on days.Some lads I know are now pensioners since the pandemic so no longer need the money.Without the cash on the streets it's just not worth it anymore for some.They will be replaced but it takes time.

[John m]

Yis are giving alot of credibility to a survey of 680 drivers.Almost all drivers eventually end up on days.Some lads I know are now pensioners since the pandemic so no longer need the money.Without the cash on the streets it's just not worth it anymore for some.They will be replaced but it takes time.

Thats a big sample size for a survey of the amount of drivers .How many Cats do you think they asked about liking Whiskers ?Its beginning to look like there is a push for more plates to be issued .Did you get a Plate transfer form in the post from the NTA.Why ? Are they trying to see how many saloon plates will expire when the owner expires so they can plan for new releases .

[mercenary for hire]

No it isn't really a big sample size John IMO....Nobody knows how many surveyed had already left the industry but are keeping the plate on standby for when truck driving or builder gig dries up.While other jobs are paying well there is gonna be a shortage of all types of drivers.

We're getting 24 hour public transport options soon and later opening hours.We will be back to blocking up the city in no time with a protest every few months.

[Rat Catcher]

Giving virtually free cars to predominantly over 50s with mortgages paid off and kids grown up...what was the expectation?

Not often I agree with Waldron but he's right to suggest Irish educated youngsters have no interest in driving cabs for a living hence the trade is increasingly reliant on first generation (im)migrant labour.

[John m]

No it isn't really a big sample size John IMO....Nobody knows how many surveyed had already left the industry but are keeping the plate on standby for when truck driving or builder gig dries up.While other jobs are paying well there is gonna be a shortage of all types of drivers.

We're getting 24 hour public transport options soon and later opening hours.We will be back to blocking up the city in no time with a protest every few months.

There is methodology Merch it is not random    https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/sampling-methods/

[John m]

For those with good memories .The Goodbody Report 2012 did recomend the issuing of Prime time only taxi licences to pick up the slack at weekends and at busy times .If the Goodbody is the Blueprint for the Future and most of its other recommendations have been proceeded with .Is the Prime time half a plate idea still being considered it could be policed by App only pickups or prebooking only ? Note what the Survey says lack of NIGHT TIME Taxis not Lack of taxis .

[John m]

Check out section 4 and 5 and tell me that late night scarcity isint inbuilt to and known about .http://www.taxi-library.org/ireland-taxi-economic-review_2009.pdf

[silverbullet]

OR
 Mental health issues .Not referring to anybody in particular but you might find yourself included in here .

Covid was an eye opener .Lads who worked 60 .70,80,hours a week thinking they were great providers .Suddenly realized the household could survive nicely on Covid Coin and they were only fooling themselves bursting their bollox to subsidze adult children and a fancy new car for themselves or herself .

lads who use to escape the Gaff and the Kids and herself by going to work .Reconnected with families they virtually ignored .

Lads who realized they really were only a cash Cow to families that never had much respect for them only their coin .Sitting for months on end with disrespectful kids and partners .


A lot of other jobs and trades suffered from the aftershock of Covid Lockdown so why not taxi drivers ? Lads who carried on like idiots covering 50% off jobs for an App company who got pushed back when the New Normal arrived .Like a lot of Older Workers in other Industries who thought the Job would close down without them suddenly realized they are only a Number irrelevant in the great scheme of things and could be replaced or done without .

No help has been offered to Drivers to deal with Mental Health Issues .The chances are more lads are working days because its less solitary more things happening as opposed to night time work which is depressing for most trades .Didnt hear the NTA or Me Taxi or any Reps saying anything about drivers mental health .


Then you hear no younger Drivers entering the Trade .Why would they .The 9 year non 9 year rule .The Subsidies for some operators over other operators a disjointed public transport system that may or may not put busses on the road 24/7 to compete with you .Rent a Bike,rent a Car possible Rideshare and entry restrictions on certain streets and roads .AI that promises driverless cars .Why would any young person ever consider Taxi Driving as a potential career .

All good points John. You might add that taxi driving is an industrial scrapheap that you end up on, not choose to do.

Its also a safety valve for the government, so much so that they give grants via  BTWEA, etc to prevent new Irish from becoming reliant on social welfare like a lot of Irish people.

[silverbullet]

For those with good memories .The Goodbody Report 2012 did recomend the issuing of Prime time only taxi licences to pick up the slack at weekends and at busy times .If the Goodbody is the Blueprint for the Future and most of its other recommendations have been proceeded with .Is the Prime time half a plate idea still being considered it could be policed by App only pickups or prebooking only ? Note what the Survey says lack of NIGHT TIME Taxis not Lack of taxis .

As someone who only works nights, there's no lack of taxis. The shortfall has been gradually eroded by all-night buses. People are being dumped unceremoniously onto the street by ruthless publicans and nightclub owners who in turn blame cabs for not working hard enough.