Call Sign March 2005 - Page 35 - DRIVER OPERATIONS UPDATE

Hello Ladies and Gents,

Signal Improvements
May I firstly take this opportunity to thank you for having the confidence to support and vote for me once again to represent you, the members, on the Board of Management for a further term in office. It was nice to meet some old and new faces at this year’s AGM and as I mentioned in my address on the day, it is a position I will not and do not take lightly.
Since my last Call Sign report, a lot of groundwork has taken place at all of our Ariel sites, all have been tested and crystal filters installed at each one that will reduce the interference and allow the receiver to ‘hear’ the weaker mobiles. On four of the sites, there were significant improvements - which is very positive - and even at the other three sites which registered less of an improvement, over the course of a day random interference was reduced. So overall, all the base stations benefited and this should now help to improve the signal problems that some of you have encountered on some channels. Discussion and idea sharing is ongoing and the Board will do everything in its power to reach a suitable conclusion to a problem that we know is high priority.

Terminal Upgrade and Printers
Many of you have been to Roman Way either side of Christmas to

DRIVER OPERATIONS UPDATE

have the latest upgrade which
incorporates the printer receipt as
well as the ‘Where am I’ button. A couple of additional software
modifications have now been added to meet the PCO guidelines and as soon as they have been successfully tested, you will be notified to go to the fitting bay to
have the final edition installed. I have mentioned previously that those of you who have an imminent overhaul must arrange with Roman Way to have your terminal upgraded before you present the taxi at the Carriage Office. This takes just a few minutes but is very important. If the receipt that you print through your terminal does not show the actual year eg 2005 as part of the date, you will need to make an appointment at Roman Way.

Disability Discrimination Act and Wheelchairs
I’m sure you are all aware of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) that sets out guidelines and rights that disabled people have. It is now law that all taxis must

accept a wheelchair hiring. While
there is no discrimination against such a journey and in order for the Society to comply with the regulations, the ‘W’ attribute will soon be removed from these particular trips and replaced with an ‘A’ attribute, in view of the fact that you may be required to help and assist on these types of rides. We are fully aware that some members may have a condition that makes it difficult or prevents them from undertaking such journeys and should that be the case for you, we would therefore ask you to provide an exemption form from the Public Carriage Office.

Ranking at Cabot Square
Discussion on the rank at Cabot Square (E14C) is still ongoing with Canary Wharf Management and as soon as our software experts are able to write the programme, which will allow us to set up two ranks on the island that default to each other before being offered to the zone (E14), we will implement a new system for a trial period. In the meantime, please be aware that security is soon to enforce the double yellow lines. If you have any queries or ideas on this matter, please don’t hesitate to contact Keith Cain ,Tom Whitbread or myself.

Allan Evans

Allane@Dialacab.co.uk

Views on life as seen through the eyes of David Kupler (Y74) at…

KUPKAKE’S KORNER

Cleanliness and Little Emissions!

I likes to 'ave a bath

An' I likes to 'ave a shower,

I can soak in the bath

For more than a pleasant hour…

Every day I wash my hair

Though there's less than I had before!

Going bald, I just don't care