Page 29
Call Sign December 2011
The Magic Rubber Stamp!
"I was amazed and so were KPM," Dial-
a-Cab driver Laury Bartlett (L84) told
Call Sign as he waited patiently for his
the insurance cover note had the following
new MB Vito to be fitted with his DaC
inscription clearly written on it even though
data terminal at the Roman Way depot.
the insurance cover note already clearly
"Apparently," he continued, "my insur-
stated that it was for public hire on a taxi:
ance cover note, which has a box printed
`It is further certified that the poli-
on it to tick specifically detailing its use as
cy to which this Certificate relates
a taxi for public hire, was good enough
complies with the requirements of the
for the DVLA to issue a road fund tax disc
London Cab Order of 1934'.
but not good enough for SGS to pass the
KPM then promptly added the neces-
cab first time around and therefore grant
sary wording via a rubber stamp onto the
me licence plates to operate it as a taxi!"
cover note, the cab was re-presented and
Continuing his story, Laury said: "I was
it passed with no further problems.
actually on my way - some may say excit-
Laury smiled as he ended his tale: "It
edly after some disappointing experiences
shows just how careful you now have to
with my previous cab - to collect my new
be regarding documentation and how
purchase, when KPM called to say the cab
vigilant SGS are. Who would have
had failed on a documentary technicality
thought that a tiny rubber stamp could
and would not be ready until the following
have such importance! It must be magic!"
day. They were extremely apologetic, not
Laury's cab failed because it wasn't
to mention gutted, but that's life I guess!"
© Call Sign Magazine MMX1
offcially a taxi!
Apparently, what SGS required was that
New garage offers 20% service discount
Alfie and
Nigel Andrew and former long-serving KPM
Nigel are
mechanic Alfie O'Donnell have opened their
offering a
own new garage at 2a Three Colts Lane close to
20% dis-
Bethnal Green overground station.
count on
As a special opening offer, A&N Taxi Repairs
servicing
are giving a 20% discount on all servicing up
until Christmas.
Nigel and Alfie have over 30 years experience
in the cab trade between them and can carry
out mechanical, electrical and air conditioning
Electric taxi catches fire!
repairs on either LTI or Mercedes taxis. You can
call them on 0207 033 6638...
A Fireman
Just over two years ago, Call Sign, published an exclusive
putting out
story based on the words of Bas Vos, then-director of
the TX4 fire
Dutch radio circuit Taxi Centrale Amsterdam, in which he
in
claimed he was purchasing 50 electric TX4s. Mr Vos told
Amsterdam
us that he had visited the LTI factory in Coventry where he
claimed he had ordered 50 TX4s. However, when we
questioned LTI about the order, they refused to confirm or
deny its existence but assured us that if it existed, the taxis
would certainly not be electric.
Call Sign later learned that the vehicles were purchased
as normal diesel taxis from the LTI / Geely Shanghai facto-
ry of which some were later converted to electric indepen-
Keith Reading
dently of LTI.
But then in early November this year, the first major
Professional Toastmaster
shock when one of the converted electric TX4s burst into
Master of Ceremonies
flames in an Amsterdam suburb. The driver and passen-
gers escaped harm and the fire brigade were on the scene
Tele: 01279 465 938
within minutes. Whilst no cause has been officially given,
Mobile: 07774 860 374
one fireman told Call Sign Online that the suspicion was
Email: kgr.2@virgin.net
of a "short circuit."
The only question is whether all Dutch electric cabs will
10% discount for DaC drivers and staff
be taken off the road until the cause has been deter-
mined.
Fellow of the Guild of
Professional Toastmasters
Ron Yarborough
Call Sign Online
