There are now 61 fewer taxi operators and 1,895 licenced taxis on Northern Ireland's roads compared to two years ago, new figures show.
The LTOA, which represents a group of mainly large private hire taxi operators here, says there are simply now too few taxis and taxi drivers to meet passenger demand across Northern Ireland especially during anti-social hours at evenings and weekends. "Drivers have decided it is not worth their while driving the extra hours especially evenings and weekends on the current DfI fare structure when there are additional challenges for working these hours."
Currently only around 22% on average are passing the theory element, which the LTOA says "remains unacceptably low compared to other licence types". "Taxi operators have a business model where their income increases when the number of drivers they have increases . In other words, it's in our interest to have more drivers and address these problems, but there is only so much we can do within the current legislation and in the absence of an Assembly
“The taxi industry operates within the wider context of the existing economic situation and there are many factors that contribute to the current shortage of taxi drivers. In November last year, Mr O’Dowd's predecessor Nichola Mallon announced a 7.6% increase in the maximum fare as part of a post-Covid support package for the industry, and to encourage new drivers.
Maybe if they reviewed their 'pick up' charges & stop ripping people off they would get more fares.
mourneseafood I just want to comment, some of the Taxi Drivers in Belfast treat disabled customers atrociously.
Robbing scum taking £50 60 pound of people desperate to get home probably only £10 15 pound fare
Taxi drivers don't want to leave Belfast, because they inevitably have to come back empty, and with the prices of fuel, the long fares aren't profitable, hence you end up in a bidding war. Literally lines of taxis from the big 2 with their radio off charging wht they like.
Few years ago I was trying to get home from a work night out. Plenty of Taxis about but basically every one of them said they don't go to Bangor. I phoned every taxi company in Belfast. I stupidly thought it would be easier to get a Belfast based taxi to get home.
Good article but why have you not dealt with one important detail : regulations? Why exactly is it necessary to have a law that only 7 seater taxis are allowed to be hailed or pick up at taxi ranks in Belfast?
A lot of drivers won't work beyond midnight because of the amount of headers that are about
Try getting a taxi at 1am in city centre. Its weaker. 'Not heading that way lads,,too many red lights ' 🤣🤣
That's what happens when Value and Fona cab basically run Belfast