'Professional' Drivers and indicators.

MarkAnthony

Is it me or is this getting worse in Dublin? Almost without fail now when I'm following a taxi driver they fail to indicate. I'm not just talking about lane changes either, left and right turns and my particular bugbear when they pull in for people.

Is there any point in passing the can number on to anyone?

Add to this the way they are blocking main roads around the City Centre. Dawson street is calming down a bit and I almost have some sympathy with them there but the approach to Suffolk Street is getting dangerous and outside the Clarence Hotel and the top of the South Quays (at Westmorland St) is a joke. The Clarence is particularly annoying as it's just before the Quays opens into 4 lanes, from 2, and you have to merge into one lane to get past the moron cabbie.

Coaches can be as bad. There was some complete tool driving a white coach on the approach to Christchurch this evening. In the left hand lane which either goes round to the left or straight on he was pissing about and after waiting to let him go (as if you go straight on you have to merge) he finally started to pull left. Blasted him but I doubt he has a clue.

Sorry for the rant. I'm definitely getting a dashcam - I think I'm going to find posting videos of these muppets cathartic.

Spook_ie

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Is it me or is this getting worse in Dublin? Almost without fail now when I'm following a taxi driver they fail to indicate. I'm not just talking about lane changes either, left and right turns and my particular bugbear when they pull in for people.

Is there any point in passing the can number on to anyone?

Add to this the way they are blocking main roads around the City Centre. Dawson street is calming down a bit and I almost have some sympathy with them there but the approach to Suffolk Street is getting dangerous and outside the Clarence Hotel and the top of the South Quays (at Westmorland St) is a joke. The Clarence is particularly annoying as it's just before the Quays opens into 4 lanes, from 2, and you have to merge into one lane to get past the moron cabbie.

Coaches can be as bad. There was some complete tool driving a white coach on the approach to Christchurch this evening. In the left hand lane which either goes round to the left or straight on he was pissing about and after waiting to let him go (as if you go straight on you have to merge) he finally started to pull left. Blasted him but I doubt he has a clue.

Sorry for the rant. I'm definitely getting a dashcam - I think I'm going to find posting videos of these muppets cathartic.

Welcome to the real world, first things first, remember that taxi drivers are not professional they are just ordinary joe soaps like you and many others.

Just because they don't indicate when driving a taxi doesn't mean they indicate when not driving a taxi, in fact ( apart from the stopping for passengers with their hand out ) they probably drive exactly the same way when not in a taxi

ironclaw

Taxi Drivers? Professionals?

Professionals train, improve, work hard and contribute to their professions. Taxi drivers? Please. :rolleyes:

The faster Uber el al take off the better. I general take Uber Black here in Beijing and State side. A 50 min ride in a spotless Audi A6L with door open / door close service was about 25 euro yesterday. I'm not in the least bit pretentious, I'll happily take a taxi but you actually can't in this city as the language barrier / set up is very different, but Irish taxi drivers could learn a lot about the level of 'service' they offer. I'm glad I drive in Ireland and don't have to pay 5 euro before we even move to be told about the 'guver'ment' and 'immigats'

celticbest

If they drive for a living then it's there profession- hence professional driver....

Spook_ie

ironclaw wrote: »

Taxi Drivers? Professionals?

Professionals train, improve, work hard and contribute to their professions. Taxi drivers? Please. :rolleyes:

The faster Uber el al take off the better. I general take Uber Black here in Beijing and State side. A 50 min ride in a spotless Audi A6L with door open / door close service was about 25 euro yesterday. I'm not in the least bit pretentious, I'll happily take a taxi but you actually can't in this city as the language barrier / set up is very different, but Irish taxi drivers could learn a lot about the level of 'service' they offer. I'm glad I drive in Ireland and don't have to pay 5 euro before we even move to be told about the 'guver'ment' and 'immigats'

Well before you start it might be an idea to run some kind of comparisons to the cost of living, wages etc between here and there, try starting here
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=China&city1=Beijing&country2=Ireland&city2=Dublin&displayCurrency=EUR

As to your comments about €5 in an Irish taxi before you move, you'd ( seemingly ) not have the same concern of paying before you move off in a Beijing taxi, how quaint!
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/transportation/taxi.htm

Uber, UberX and Uber Black, not sure of the arrangements in Beijing but Stateside you are as likely to get an insufficiently insured driver as an adequately insured driver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT8Kv7Et0OI

Just found this gem on the official Uber blog

So Uber can cost twice as much as a cab ride. But the median Uber ride only costs $24. That means you’re paying $12 more than you would for a cab.

https://blog.uber.com/2011/04/11/uberdata-the-hidden-cost-of-cabs/
So yeah you want a reliable taxi service in Dublin then Hailo is just as efficient and doesn't price gouge customers
http://www.blogto.com/city/2014/11/uber_accused_of_unfair_price_gouging_on_halloween/
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/woman-crowd-funds-over-500-to-pay-for-uber.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/12/magazine/is-ubers-surge-pricing-an-example-of-high-tech-gouging.html?_r=0

At those kind of taxi fares I'd supply an Audi

CiniO

Well, actually usage of indicators in Ireland among professional drivers (truck and bus drivers) is fairly good. Unfortunately as to oppose to ordinary drivers in Ireland.
It's actually shocking how bad it is. I've driven in most places in EU, and I don't think I've seen places worse for lack of use of indicators than f.e. Co. Mayo.

boardsuser1

If taxi drivers are professional drivers why don't they do driver CPC just like bus and truck drivers?

Spook_ie

KC161 wrote: »

If taxi drivers are professional drivers why don't they do driver CPC just like bus and truck drivers?

Don't see why they shouldn't to be honest.

One interesting thing though is, as a taxi driver you do need to be aware of what the customer is doing or intending to do before you get to a destination. Some customers will give a general sort of instruction like head for xyz because they know they want to go to abc but only know the directions from xyz rather than where abc actually is or what abc is actually called.

Many a time I have customers saying hang a right or a left here some 5 meters from the turn, not exactly conducive to being able to indicate in plenty of time