complaint about London taxi

[puggit]

Almost every morning on my way in to town I see London taxis carving people up as they move directly from the sliproad at jc4 of the M4 (Heathrow) into the outside lane so that in 2 miles they can move in to the buslane.

Well this morning it happened to me, and only evasive action on my part stopped an accident occuring. I was in lane 3 and a taxi just moved over from lane 2 and forced me to stop.

I realise that little action can be taken by the BiB (but I'm happy to supply details...) - so my question is how can I complain to the licensing authority and do London cabs belong to companies or are they privately owned?

Thanks :)

[small]I'm still angry I didn't let him hit me, I need the entire passenger side resprayed anyway after a keying incident!![/small]

[mcflurry]

Didn't you know that London black cab drivers own the road?

They have the right to have extreme opinions, play golf badly, rip off businesses, moan when there is competition from minicabs and cut you up as they please.

[Fer]

mcflurry said:

Didn't you know that London black cab drivers own the road?

When did BMW start making cabs then?

[towman]

puggit said:

do London cabs belong to companies or are they privately owned?

Most Cabbies are self employed. They either own the cab or rent it.

Steve

Info on the Public Carriage Office..... www.tfl.gov.uk/pco/abt_pco_history.shtml

[te51cle]

IIRC London cabbies aren't allowed to drive their cars if they are damaged so if they hit something they're not able to earn until the damage is fixed. Ultimately they will give way to avoid an accident. Its a theory I proved correct when I was younger and stupider and driving a rented Escort.

[ledfoot]

te51cle said:

IIRC London cabbies aren't allowed to drive their cars if they are damaged so if they hit something they're not able to earn until the damage is fixed.

That may explain why when a black cab cut me up at Buckingham Palace and damaged his vehicle not mine, that he said forget it, and just pretend nothing happened.
This was 20 years ago now and I never heard anymore of it. It was only a small dent to one of his doors, but not a scratch on my car bumper, so I was happy.

[lanciachris]

It is interesting the stupid hoops cab drivers have to jump through - an old neighbour of mine is a black cab driver and the cab has to undergo frequent inspection that is kind of like an mot test except they can pick up on anything you like and stop the driver earning until they have been bribed to pass it. For example, my neighbours car failed the test because apparently the tester could hear a slight squeak from the steering wheel near full lock. I gather you dont have the option to take it anywhere else as you do with an MOT test station either.