Feel-Good Taxi News of the Month - The Taxi Centre
Your monthly round-up of top moments in the industry to brighten your day.
At The Taxi Centre, we love to celebrate and share the positive stories of our industry from drivers all over the country.
We’ve rounded up our top picks for this month that are guaranteed to make you smile!
1. Callington taxi driver shares experience providing aid to Ukraine
A taxi driver from Callington, Cornwall, has shared his experiences after he helped 104 vans deliver supplies to Ukraine.
Darren Tait, owner of Darren’s Cars in Callington, began delivering aid to Ukraine in February 2022, soon after the country was invaded.
He set up a group called Devon and Cornwall Sending Love to Ukraine, and has helped fill the vans with much-needed supplies for those who have fled the warzone. Items included essential medical supplies, sleeping bags, nappies, and even pet food.
Working with his team, Darren took the supplies as far as Warsaw, Poland, where they were delivered to Ukraine by local charities.
Their efforts were rewarded with a warm welcome from the Polish community and Warsaw Chamber of Commerce. The team received a buffet, and a special concert was arranged as a thank you for their work.
The group has also helped to bring around 60 Ukrainian refugees to safety in the UK, where they have been taken in by families in Devon and Cornwall.
On their latest trip on April 10th, Darren and the team delivered glasses, nappies, baby food, trauma kits, and adult incontinence pads. They also managed to deliver larger items such as generators and cooking stoves, which were urgently needed.
They have also provided hospital equipment and supplies for those with disabilities, including 1,000 Zimmer frames and wheelchairs to field hospitals. Derriford Hospital also donated a box of hearing aids which were delivered to Ukrainians with hearing difficulties.
2. Taxi driver’s pet crow flies alongside cab, taking food from passenger’s hand
What makes a great taxi driver stand out? Usually, it might be friendly conversation, or some feel-good music.
One taxi driver however is taking a more original approach by having his pet crow fly alongside his vehicle to entertain passengers.
Abbie Cashman, a TikTok user from Cork, videoed the surreal moment on her journey. At the beginning of the video, Abbie told followers she’d had difficulty finding a taxi driver who would take her until coming across the friendly cabbie.
She was then stunned when a crow flew up to the vehicle and stayed level alongside it before the driver introduced her to his pet.
He instructed her on how to feed the crow some pieces of digestive biscuit, which the bird happily accepted.
The two laughed as the bird playfully accepted the treat, with Abbie in disbelief.
Clever crows
Crows are associated with a number of things, some of which are a little dark.
But the birds are also known for their intelligence, with some comparing their brain capabilities to that of a seven-year-old.
According to ThoughtCo, they have several impressive abilities, including:
- Recognizing human faces
- Excellent memory
- Using tools to solve problems
- Abstract reasoning
- Abstract reasoning
- Group decision-making
This has been suggested in numerous tests and studies with the animals, indicating that they are a lot smarter than you would think, and make for great passenger entertainment!
3. Meet the taxi driver sharing some basic do’s and don’ts for fellow taxi drivers in London
London taxi driver and YouTuber, Tom Hutley, has become popular for his videos about the industry.
In one video, Tom provides drivers information about the basic taxi-driving ‘etiquette’ that drivers should follow. He also reveals some of the things that should be avoided while on duty.
These include not moving up at the taxi rank, which prevents other drivers from joining the rank at the back. Tom also warns against ‘brooming’ fares, which happens when drivers will give a customer an excuse as to why they cannot take them, essentially picking and choosing between fares.
Over-ranking is also something to avoid. This is encroaching on the zig-zag lines in taxi ranks, which some areas have cameras in place to detect.
Drivers should also make sure they give way to other drivers carrying passengers, wanting to pull in or out of a side turn.
Chances are, you’ll be driving a lot slower if you’re looking for a job, which is why Tom says it makes sense to make life easier for other cabbies and give way to them where you can.
According to expert Tom, you also shouldn’t overtake another cab for hire. However, if you are turning off immediately afterward, or the cab in front of you is pulling in to drop off their passenger, overtaking is acceptable here.
Then there’s Tom’s pet hate - ‘stealing’ the next fare after dropping off a passenger from drivers who are already waiting nearby. To keep things fair, if a customer approaches your vehicle after your passenger gets out, you should direct them to the taxi that was there before you.
If you’re wanting to make sure your services are top-notch AND make things easier for your fellow cabbies on the road, you can watch the full video.
For more interesting news and updates, keep an eye on our newsroom.