{"id":44276,"date":"2021-11-05T12:27:16","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T12:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=44276"},"modified":"2021-12-20T22:58:36","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T22:58:36","slug":"taxi-drivers-shortage-evokes-new-public-safety-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/taxi-drivers-shortage-evokes-new-public-safety-fears\/","title":{"rendered":"Taxi drivers shortage sparks new public safety fears"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Licensed Private Car Hire Association (LPCHA) estimates that the industry is short of  160,000 of the previously 300,000-strong workforce.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steve Wright, chairman of the LPCHA, told the BBC: “We have had calls from Inverness in Scotland, right down to Cornwall, with people saying they cannot get drivers and they cannot get licenses quickly enough.”<\/p>\n

The requirements to become a qualified taxi driver, such as a complete medical test, medical record and the famous “Knowledge” test – plus, applying to the local cancel for a license, which cost \u00a3600 a year, are enforcing the existing backlog.<\/p>\n

Due to the lack of demand during the Covid pandemic, chauffeurs sought alternative occupations. “The more sociable hours and guaranteed income of a warehouse were really appealing to me – that is why I changed my job,” shared Thomas Bailey with the Voice of London(VOL).<\/p>\n

One council taking a proactive approach to tackle the shortage is Torbay in Devon. They have reduced the cost of licensing to just \u00a350 to encourage more drivers to get behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

“We were seeing massive queues for cabs, and the tourist trade was being affected, so we thought we’d better step in,” explained councillor Christine Carter to the BBC.<\/p>\n

However, Torbay’s approach has brought them only half of the drivers the region needs.<\/p>\n

‘Women safety issue’
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Girls Night In\u2019 boycotts criticised for stopping women from reclaiming the streets<\/a><\/h3>\n

The fear that the shortage of taxi drivers will put women in more challenging situations hang upon Londoners.<\/p>\n

“The shortage of taxi drivers in London will inevitably lead to more victims of sexual assault,” a bartender told the VOL.<\/p>\n

In the current climate, concerns about women safety have been a primary issue. Yet, women encounter further challenges because they can not order a taxi after a long night out.<\/p>\n

They are left with finite options to reach home.<\/p>\n

“I waited for over an hour for a taxi while Uber drivers kept cancelling my orders. In the end, I used public transport and promised myself I won’t be going out any time soon,” shared Emmanuela Abiodun.<\/p>\n

Office for National Statistics reported that “one in two women and one in seven men felt unsafe walking alone after dark in a quiet street near their home.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Word: Ivan Zhelev |Sub-edited: Valeria Vintimilla<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Licensed Private Car Hire Association (LPCHA) estimates that the industry is short of  160,000 of the previously 300,000-strong workforce. Steve Wright, chairman of the LPCHA, told the BBC: “We have had calls from Inverness…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":476,"featured_media":47774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[841,3769,5056],"class_list":["post-44276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-black-cabs","tag-london","tag-public-safety-fear"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t