Two complaints a day against taxi drivers
Around two complaints a day are being made against taxi drivers, new figures revealed today.
The Taxi Regulator’s Office received 348 complaints in the first six months of the year, with drivers’ conduct and behaviour accounting for the majority of grievances – 155 – from passengers all over the country.
Overcharging and other fare issues made up 124 of the complaints, while 56 were made relating to the hiring of an vehicle.
Only 13 criticisms were made about the condition and cleanliness of the vehicles.
Taxi Commissioner Kathleen Doyle currently has 20 prosecutions currently pending.
The complaints were made between January 1 – June 15, while in the final three months of last year – from September 25 to December 31 – 145 grievances were received.
“These are a result both of investigation of complaints made to the Commission and of checks carried out around the country,” said a spokesman for the Taxi Regulator.
“The first of these are due to be heard in October.
“The full enforcement team has been in place and active since February 2007, however, the Commission has been responsible for the handling of complaints since September 25, 2006.
“It should therefore be noted that some of the pending prosecutions may have involved lengthy investigations and will relate to complaints received last year.”
There are more than 23,000 Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs) on Irish roads, including taxi, hackney and limousine services.
Despite formally issuing 64 formal warnings – as a result of investigation of complaints made to the Commission and spot-checks carried out around the country - the commissioner has said the vast majority of the industry operates to very high standards.
Margaret Nugent, vice-president of the National Taxi Drivers Federation, defended the behaviour of drivers who she said are providing a service to in excess of two million customers a year.
“Between 2004 and 2007 we had more than 5,000 extra vehicles on the road so the amount of complaints for the number of cars we have has actually dropped,” she continued.
“The number of complaints are relatively small, but one complaint against a driver is one complaint too many.
“However, the Taxi Regulator and her office is doing a good job at addressing them.”
