East Riding of Yorkshire Council has received positive feedback from the taxi trade and people who were out celebrating over the festive season for the ‘Get Home Safe Tonight’ taxi campaign.
The campaign, which included displaying safety information on posters and beer mats as well as the appointment of taxi marshals on main ranks, was run in Beverley and Bridlington over the weekends of Christmas and New Year.
The aim of the scheme was to encourage party-goers to stay safe by highlighting what to look out for when taking a taxi or private hire ride home and to raise awareness of bogus taxi drivers.
The marshals worked between midnight and 4am on 23, 24, 26, 30 and 31 December, ensuring that queues were orderly, anti-social behaviour was controlled on the rank, customers got into licensed vehicles only and had enough money to pay their fares before getting in the vehicles.
Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for rural issues and cultural services and chair of East Riding of Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership, said: “The council is delighted with the positive responses received from the taxi trade, licensed premises, our partners, including Humberside Police, and residents for this campaign.
“The aim of the scheme was to help people to have a great night out and support our night time economy, as well as keeping the travelling public safe using the taxi ranks.
“Over the two weekends it operated, there were no reports of unlicensed vehicles operating in Beverley and Bridlington and customers felt safe because the taxi marshals were there to assist where necessary.
“Unlicensed vehicles are in the minority, but pose a real danger to the travelling public and take work away from licensed taxis and the private hire trade who do a great job, especially late at night, of getting people home quickly and safely at a time when no other public transport is available.”
The campaign was financed from license fees, so cost the tax payer nothing. Income generated from license fees can be spent on enforcing licensing or improving the night time economy.
The council is currently evaluating the campaign and will then make a decision on whether it will run again at other times this year.
If you have any concerns about unlawful taxis operating, contact East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Licensing Team on (01482) 396297 or Humberside Police.
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