Safety At Xmas..Ref Saturdays Evening Chronicle

I read the usual safety first list for passengers to be careful in not just jumping into any old car over the festive period as the following states.




PARTYGOERS are being warned to beware of rogue cabbies in the run-up to the festive season.

Taxi bosses have launched a safety campaign to warn people about the dangers of getting into unlicensed cabs.

Noda Taxis, Newcastle’s biggest taxi firm, will be handing out pocket guides to customers containing safety tips.

The company is also using posters, leaflets and advertisements and will have a marshal on duty at the Central Station rank to ensure people get into cabs that are registered, licensed and safe.

In September, bogus cabbie Andrew Beal, 39, of Breamish, Ellington, Northumberland, was jailed indefinitely after trying to trap a teenage girl.

The convicted rapist cruised the city’s streets and a 19-year-old student got into his car on Newcastle’s Mosley Street.

Beal planned to molest her on the sheet-covered back seat of his VW Passat, but she was saved by the intervention of a genuine cabbie, Stephen Sholder, 49.

Mr Sholder, who is based at Newcastle Central Station, became suspicious, blocked in Beal’s car and alerted police. The judge said his vigilance had probably saved the student from a serious sexual assault. She was in fancy dress and returning from a birthday party.

The campaign message is “Do you know who’s taking you home tonight?”

Noda says the aim is to protect revellers and improve perceptions of the taxi trade.

Posters show a smartly dressed driver in uniform with his new, taxed and insured cab alongside a less savoury character masquerading as a cabbie.

The aim is to make people think before they get into a car after a night out. Campaign leaders say there are horror stories of rogue taxis and unscrupulous drivers, particularly at this time of the year.

In London, figures show 11 women are attacked each month after taking unlicensed minicabs and 80% of stranger rapes are committed by unlicensed cab drivers.

Jimmy Blake, contracts manager of Noda Taxis, said: “What we’re trying to get across is that the person taking you home might not be who you think they are.

“Even if they are genuine, you can’t always be sure you’re getting the same service and level of professionalism that we offer.

“The biggest safety message we can give to anyone is ‘follow your instincts’.”

Sgt Iain Boath said: “Although Northumbria Police do not endorse any particular taxi company, we do support the key message in this campaign which aims to protect patrons from rogue drivers and ensure that they are using a properly licensed taxi.”

Noda asked the public how they can help ease people’s minds about getting home after a night out.

As a result, they have put together a set of tips in the form of a pocket guide for staying safe which will be distributed as part of the campaign.


Well that copy was off the chronicles website,but in sat nights chronicle there was a list of safety measures alongside the article.
As Follows,

"Driving home advice"
1)Order a taxi in advance or call the booking office to avoid queuing.
2)Ask the driver what name the taxi is booked in-dont give your name first.
3)Ask to see the drivers id badge,which by law all cabbies must have.
4)All drivers should have a licence number and reg number-save them in your phone in case you need to report anything.
5)Leave with a friend if possible and ring home to let them know your on your way.

The one that puzzles me is advice number 2.........
Will this not play into the general publics hands of just saying "oh yes thats me"when all they are after is getting a taxi quicker?
Crazy advice if you ask me and by the way,where would that leave the driver in terms of picking the wrong fare up, or even illegally picking a fare up!

hummmmmmmmm rule 2 err isnt that the only way we can make sure we get the correct fair?

I want to add something to the advice, ask the driver how much the fare will be, so you dont get ripped off, i.e. EASTCOAST have a set fare from Newcastle to Wallsend of £9-50 forget what is on the meter, you will be charged £9-50

Joe King wrote:I want to add something to the advice, ask the driver how much the fare will be, so you dont get ripped off, i.e. EASTCOAST have a set fare from Newcastle to Wallsend of £9-50 forget what is on the meter, you will be charged £9-50

i think youll find its 11.50

where do you get that info from dazzla ? and if it is £11-50 thats more expensive than the toon hack 2 rate..... disgusting, I wonder what the ginger muppet has to say about it.

as far as i know thats wht they charge same as wht you'd pay bk to whitley bay

Maybe its time for a phone call to Eastcoasts office (recorded of course - with permission), then if i can figure out how, i will put the recording on here