The Blind Leading The Blind...

Darren Johnson, Assembly Member (Green Party) has posted an article on the Mayorwatch site explaining his intentions and opinions behind the question he put to Mayor Boris Johnson on the 13th October 2011.

The article can be viewed here; http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk

Darren's article in-part, is factual and supportive towards much of what the Taxi Trade has been trying to get across in the media and to the Mayor for many years.


But Darren just couldn't resist taking a side swipe at the trade that showed him up for advertising on Twitter for a "Pirate" minicab to take him home..

Darren said;

Shameful Tweets

"One area where black cabs drivers must take the blame is when they got Boris Johnson to make the abolition of six-monthly inspections a manifesto commitment. It may have saved cabbies a bit of money in the short term, but it has done long-term damage to the credibility of both the Mayor and the cab trade."

That being the case then Darren, if our "credibility" is so damaged, why have we gone on to be voted the best Taxi service in the world throughout Boris administration?

He went on to say;

"Over 2,300 cabs a year were being pulled up and fixed, as they did not even meet the minimal standards that we have. Given the number of cabs pulled off the road and cleaned up, scrapping the test sent out a very negative message that many cabbies really don’t care."

Darren the only damage that was done by scrapping the half yearly test was to the pocket of the subcontractors at SGS.

Taxis do not fail annual inspections on mass over excessive exhaust pollution, most failures are caused by submitting wrong paperwork, no meter certificate, wrong colour on log books of liveried cabs, no back door ashtrays, blown bulbs and other minor mechanical faults.

I'm sure SGS will be able to give you a complete list of vehicles which have failed the smoke test. It will show new cabs have a higher rate of failing than older cabs. In some cases, cabs in the 20 year old bracket, habitually pass with lower levels than brand new Taxis. One 22 year old Metro holds the record for the lowest smoke test reading seen since SGS took over from the Carriage Office.

Also, Darren you haven't done your home work, from 2013 all Taxis will be subject to two, six monthly MoT inspections on top of the yearly overhaul. So the request for two inspections will actually be exceeded.

Now to those supporters of the UTG, who thought the 15 year age limit offered made to the Mayor, by a selection of interested parties, including manufacturers and garage owners was a good idea, take heed of Darren's words

"However, if pollution levels do not get reduced quickly then expect the 15 year age limit to turn into a 10 year age limit."

Again Darren an "age limit" will not bring down pollution level as many of the vehicles coming off the road next year in fact have cleaner emissions than new TX4's. Almost all of the LPG converted vehicles fall into this age group as do vehicles who have had replacement engines and filtered exhausts.

We would also like to point out to Darren that much of the pollution he talks about involves PM10 particulates. These microscopic particles are produced by tyre and brake wear and tear from all vehicles and will still be there no matter what engine you stick in a Taxi.

TfL, the Mayor and even LTPH can no longer pass the buck on the issue of Taxi emissions, investment in a cleaner engine should have been insisted on many years ago, instead of letting the manufacturers bulk buy the cheapest engine they could find to fit into a TX body shell.

Because of the stringent conditions of fitness, the Mayor will be expecting the Taxi Trade to buy a vehicle with one of the worlds highest carbon foot print. Assembled in China with steel from Africa, power train from western Europe and rubber from South America. The only alternative is a vehicle costing £10,000 more, an investment most drivers cant afford.

When are we going to get common sense back in our corridors of power?