New PSV Taxi Drivers
1. Encouraging New Drivers into the Taxi Industry
2. What Makes a Taxi Driver?! (is it you?!)
3. The Guide for New PSV Taxi Drivers
1. Encouraging New Drivers into the Taxi Industry
Encouraging new Drivers is essential, especially given the ages of the current Drivers with 66% above 60 & 28% above 70 (March 2024 FOI Response) and with insurance companies tightening up on age for Taxi Driver policies will find that many of those older Drivers will exit the Industry well before an age related insurance refusal due to:
Health
Personal choice (including relocation from Jersey)
Ever higher Insurance Costs for age reasons
Commercial Reality – especially when a car needs major work or replacing.
Historically the Taxi Industry has relied on Artificial Barriers to entry as part of protecting the established Operators and Drivers short term – instead of welcoming competition and new blood / ideas as a driver (sic) to allow the Taxi Industry to at least try and keep up as the world (even Jersey!) develops and changes.
At a time of Driver shortage it is counter-productive to maintain or create new Artificial Barriers to new Drivers especially only to protect the commercial interests of a few.
Prospective Taxi Drivers need 3 principal things:-
a) An Island Knowledge Taxi Test that is Transparent - especially on what is not needed to know for the Test, by specifically stating what is required to learn.
b) Purple Plates on Demand - no reason why a Taxi Driver needs to be a Company Driver first, a massive Barrier to Entry by not having option of own vehicle (for the certainty that provides as well as more commercially viable work terms).
c) Part-Time (own Plate or Company Car) attractive choice - every industry needs part-time workers.
Remove the bar on Drivers renting Company Cars (by Week, Day or Shift), instead of the “work around” using zero hour employment contracts. Cheaper & Easier to manage and more transparent for Drivers. Including for new Drivers just wanting to try out before committing to a full time job change.
Remove the Mileage requirement on all Taxis (Minister is informed by total mileage across the Industry). It's long since been unenforceable.
Driver Minimum Age Requirement – remove entirely! (questionable whether nowadays defensible in the Tribunal under age discrimination legislation). Replace by needing a clean Jersey driving licence for a minimum period (3 years?) for all ages.
2. What Makes a Taxi Driver?! (is it you?!)
This is included within "The Guide for New PSV Taxi Drivers" as part of helping de-mystify the Taxi Industry and encourage new entrants. - by being Transparent on both the Pros & Cons.
3. Guide for New PSV Taxi Drivers
Published online for prospective Taxi Drivers and those starting work as a Taxi Driver for the first time - to help de-mystify the Taxi Industry and encourage new entrants.
The Guide is still a work in Progress, mainly because as stated on the Gov.je website - the Test is based on various vague categories including those with nigh on Infinite Locations. And the Routes in between each.
At least a couple of dozen Freedom of Information requests will be needed (to both the Central Government and to each of the Parishes) to identify the Island Knowledge that could be tested by DVS.