High fuel prices forcing some taxi drivers off the road
Dundee taxi drivers have been forced to give up their vehicles after spiralling fuel and maintenance costs proved too much for them to continue.
The numbers are no longer adding up for some taxi drivers.
Graeme Stephen, chairman of Dundee Taxi Association, highlighted the grim reality of the city's cabbies as he backed The Courier's Fight for Fairer Fuel campaign.
Mr Stephen said he knows of three drivers who have been unable to make the job add up for them, with increases in fuel and maintenance costs hitting pockets hard.
Asked if any drivers were forced to quit, he said, "There are two cars that I know of as the drivers couldn't afford to run them.
"Another guy was falling behind with his hire purchase agreement and handed back the car before it was taken from him. It's a ridiculous situation."
Mr Stephen estimates his Citroen Picasso averages around 32mpg driving throughout Dundee, but he added his concern for wheelchair-adapted vehicles that he estimates would return around 25mpg due to their increased weight.
While fuel is probably the largest cost for taxi drivers, he said other factors such as maintenance costs and insurance have forced operators to raid the piggy bank to keep themselves on the road.
He said, "I was working out the other day that when I got my car four years ago it was costing £38 to fill up my tank — and now it's £79.
"The VAT increase hit everything. Fuel is always expensive but the VAT rise put it up further. There are a lot of potholes out there and I've had to replace two track rod ends and ball joints on my car.
"For the mileage I do, that's ridiculous. It's not cheap."
The obvious way for taxi drivers to meet overheads is to raise fares — a protracted process that operators and the public do not wish to see.
Mr Stephen argues a fuel duty regulator would at least help to offset increases in the price of oil, and allow operators to plan ahead.
Charlie Duthie, director at Tay Taxis, was also quick to highlight the impact of fuel prices on his firm.
He told The Courier, "It's really hitting us hard. The drivers are coming in and talking about it a lot more as diesel is way up now.
"With VAT up as well we're getting hit from all quarters."
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