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Dodgy tips, aggressive drivers, "smelly" vehicles - taxi complaints went through the roof in the last four years

More than half of the complaints made last year concerned the behaviour of taxi drivers.

File Photo Three taxi drivers who challenged the deregulation of the taxi market in 2000 have lost their case in the High Court. The drivers argued that the sudden deregulation of the market had reduced the value of taxi plates from almost 100,000 euro to Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

COMPLAINTS AGAINST IRISH taxi drivers have increased by a huge extent in the last four years.

Figures released by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under freedom of information indicate an increase of 170% in the number of complaints made in 2015 versus 2011.

In fact, the total of 928 complaints made last year was slightly lower than the number made in 2014 (346 such complaints were made in 2011).

fig 1 NTA NTA

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Over half of the complaints made relate to driver conduct, with 32% of reports made concerning issues over fares.

fig 2 NTA NTA

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Almost 58% of complaints received no further action. 29% of cases saw “advice given” to the taxi driver in question. 2% of cases lead to fixed payment notices (fines, basically), and a further 2% of cases saw official warnings given to the drivers in question.

fig 3 NTA NTA

Click here to view a larger image

22% of cases were referred externally to other bodies such as An Garda Síochána or the Department of Transport. This is not an indication of the severity of the complaint however, but rather of the suitability of the other body to deal with said complaint – eg the gardaí are best placed to deal with road traffic issues.

26/2/2014 New Luas Lines Construction Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

Complaints regarding vehicle condition

53 complaints were received by the NTA regarding the condition of taxis in 2015.

  • One customer complained of a “dirty and filthy” taxi which smelt of “days old sweat”. When the driver was consulted he admitted that his car had been in poor condition and that he had taken it out of service
  • Another customer spoke of a “filthy dirty” vehicle which was also “a little smelly”. This vehicle was inspected and found to be “not up to the required standard”. The driver was issued with a “rectification notice” and warned as to his “duties and responsibilities as a driver”.
  • Another complaint saw a customer complain of a car with “lots of clutter and dirty rags in it”. “The car smelled very bad and had a pungent air freshener.” In this case the vehicle was found to be in good repair  and had been recently valeted. Advice was given to the driver.

Complaints regarding driver conduct

491 complaints were received regarding driver conduct, more than half of all submissions made by aggrieved customers.

File Photo Three taxi drivers who challenged the deregulation of the taxi market in 2000 have lost their case in the High Court. The drivers argued that the sudden deregulation of the market had reduced the value of taxi plates from almost 100,000 euro to Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

  • In September 2015 a customer asked his taxi driver not to park outside the hotel he was staying in. In response, the customer alleged that they were called “a c**t” and “a pr**k” and told to f**k off several times. The taxi driver then allegedly told the customer that he would see the customer “on Monday night when I am alone”. Upon investigation “advice was given” to the driver, who was issued with “a reminder of his duties and responsibilities”.
  • In July 2015 a driver refused to take a fare for between Harcourt Street and Grand Canal Street. When he heard the destination from the customer he told them that he was “booked” and made them get out. The customer expressed herself “annoyed” at not being able to secure a lift home because the fare was deemed to be too small. However, she declined to provide evidence which would have supported a prosecution.
  • In October 2015 a driver in Dublin told a customer to approach another taxi rather than his own. The other taxi refused to take the fare as he was awaiting another customer. This led the driver of the first taxi to get out of his car and “roar” at the other driver “in the most aggressive manner I have ever witnessed” to “take these people” or to move on immediately. He then reached into the other taxi, grabbed the car keys, and threw them “onto the middle of Dame Street”. He then told the customer to get into his own vehicle, but they refused. The driver was issued with a formal warning by the NTA and admitted in an interview that his behaviour was unacceptable.

15/1/2014. Taxi Drivers Protests Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

Complaint regarding overcharging

  • In October 2015 a taxi driver in Dublin added €9 to his fare for no reason, according to the customer. In an interview with the driver he claimed that he had been instructed to add a tip. He was then informed that adding such a tip to a fare is not officially acceptable. The driver offered to refund the tip, which the customer said should be given to charity, as it “wasn’t about the money”. Once more, “advice was given” to the driver.

Complaint regarding refusal of fare

  • In December 2015 a female taxi driver was hailed by two young men. When informed where they wished to go she replied “no way” and “sped off dangerously”. The customer suggested that the driver “needs to learn manners”. The driver was subsequently issued with a fixed payment notice for an unreasonable refusal to carry a passenger. The driver freely admitted declining the fare, saying that she had “some trouble with young men previously”.

Read: ‘Fake taxi’ driver ‘lucky to avoid jail’ for continuing to drive vehicle after being banned

Read: “Your organs are no use to anyone in the ground” – a donor’s kindness has given this girl her life back

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102 Comments
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:52 AM

    Trampolines are having a ball playing musical gardens too.

    295
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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:37 AM

    Isn’t it about time that power lines were buried ?

    203
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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:46 AM

    Why so they can pose more of a threat to farmers and construction workers?
    Best kept in plain sight.

    218
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 7:53 AM

    More killed by overhead cables Jennie.

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:44 AM

    Where did you hear that Mark?

    Because almost all our medium to high voltage lines are overhead so naturally this poses more of a risk. But we have far more cable strikes from underground cables than from overhead cables. Irish water workers for example tend to have 300 to 400 cable strikes a month, all underground.

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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:55 AM

    And just how many deaths came from those 300 to 400 cable strikes a month Keane? Thank you.

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:32 AM

    You missed the point Mark. The deaths will come if you star sticking the high voltage lines underground. Even the Dutch who pretty much have 100% low to medium voltage lines underground, will not put high voltage lines underground.

    59
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    Mute Joe
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:48 AM

    Great idea, only cost about a few billion, maybe we could levy the consumers.

    107
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    Mute David Conway
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    Jan 10th 2015, 12:18 PM

    It costs too much to put cables underground. Overhead are easier to maintain. The odd downed power line is a easier price to pay than ducting the whole country.

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    Mute Stephen Earle
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    Jan 11th 2015, 12:29 AM

    Did you consider the unbelievable cost of burying all such cables? C’mon!!

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    Mute Nobby Donnelly
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    Jan 10th 2015, 11:36 AM

    “Our whole wall fell down..” Well im not surprised since you effectively fixed a timber sail to it from what I can see in the photo.

    113
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    Mute Martin O'Rourke
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:56 AM

    Very windy in Donegal my house moved a yard last night!

    111
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    Mute little jim
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:30 AM

    My house took in the front lawn.

    25
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    Mute Nell foran
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Was in meath yesterday and two enormous trees fell on the road in front of the car only missed us by a couple of feet. Scary

    107
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    Mute Derek Byrne
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:40 AM

    I don’t think were in Kansas anymore Toto.

    96
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:11 AM

    And wheelie bins!

    91
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:19 AM

    Our wheelie bins were like a couple of R2D2′s last night…being blown around aimlessly

    114
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    Mute Catherine Mayock
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    Jan 10th 2015, 3:30 PM

    Well batten down the hatches cause it aint over.

    15
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    Mute Liam Mangan
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    Jan 10th 2015, 6:37 PM

    To the driver of the jeep on m9 dublin carlow yesterday for making shit of my car when your plastic material flew out including ratchet straps , my bumper grills spot lights and drivers light (€1600) also 2 other cars damaged, you pulled over down the motorway realised what you done jumped back in and sped off , shame on you, we could have been killed, and it’s me that has to somehow pay for this for your thickness

    88
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    Mute Helen Downey
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    Jan 11th 2015, 1:06 AM

    That is honestly disgusting that they didn’t take responsibility for their crap.

    23
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    Mute Tommy Shannon
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:23 AM

    Turn on the washing machines
    There’s great drying out !!

    79
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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:11 AM

    That’s because none are underground.
    So obviously yes more are killed by overhead cables.
    If they’re underground you’ll all be giving out that they’ll limit what you can do with your land too much. Ie building works etc.
    And if something goes wrong it’ll be a much bigger job to fix. Digging up cable to try and find the break. Relaying the whole length. Etc

    64
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:43 AM

    I think if you look, most cities and towns, and certainly all newer developments, have now buried the cables. This has led to far less disruption and far fewer deaths. It isn’t that difficult to map where power lines are buried.

    As an aside, overhead cables are an unsightly blight on our landscape.

    52
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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:17 AM

    *to sorry

    Also it’ll do a huge amount of damage to the landscape and the environment laying them underground in the first place….

    Out of sight, Out of mind isn’t always the best policy

    41
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    Mute Foxtrot Hotel
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    Jan 10th 2015, 1:12 PM

    Everyone starts juicing and detoxing after new years: giant uptake in wind speeds. Coincidence? I think not.

    Kevin Hunt really exposing some shoddy workmanship on that wall. It’s only a bit of wind.

    38
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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Jan 10th 2015, 2:43 PM

    Well I didn’t build the wall?! and the neighbors had the fence not us

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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Jan 10th 2015, 2:53 PM

    And tell your neighbour it’s time to put the crimbo decorations away.

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    Mute Foxtrot Hotel
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    Jan 10th 2015, 3:46 PM

    I didn’t say you, Kev. I said you exposed shoddy workmanship.

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    Mute kevinhunt101
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    Jan 10th 2015, 8:09 PM

    Oh sorry haha, Ye I guess so!

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    Mute Paul Smith
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    Jan 10th 2015, 11:14 AM

    Snow in Fermangh. Not settling but great to look at

    29
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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Jan 10th 2015, 3:38 PM

    Bit of snow here in Cavan, just enough to lightly dust an annoyed cat.

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    Mute Veronica
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:01 AM

    Thankfully we escaped it in cork but was quite windy for a time but it blew itself out late last night

    17
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    Mute Andy Patton
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    Jan 10th 2015, 11:31 AM

    #JeSuisKevinHunt

    15
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    Mute Dylan Neary
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:54 AM

    There was a might wind in co Louth after that hot curry last night

    15
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    Mute Dylan Neary
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:55 AM

    “Mighty”

    9
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    Mute Emily Morris
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    Jan 10th 2015, 9:02 AM

    Our trampoline hasntlufted a finger yet! youd think it would have blown to the next county with these winds lol!

    13
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    Mute Eoin Dixon Murphy
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    Jan 11th 2015, 12:32 PM

    Go home snowman, you are drunk.

    10
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    Mute Martinp Hoey
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    Jan 10th 2015, 10:58 AM

    That’s the problem with Irish water not obeying safety legislation when digging holes in footpaths

    7
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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Jan 10th 2015, 12:23 PM

    It depends alot on the machine driver. I work with one who could stir your tea with a 13 Tonne machine. I’ve worked with other lads you wouldn’t trust digging a hole with a teaspoon.

    16
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    Mute Paul Parsons
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    Jan 11th 2015, 2:03 AM

    Short hairy and fat. Perfectly adapted for this weather. Form an orderly que ladies.

    4
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 11th 2015, 1:25 AM

    If the night of the big wind happened in 1839 (6th Jan) then if it happened again with global warming, what would we do?

    1
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