Last-minute cancellations, long waiting times … anyone who has tried to get a cab recently is likely to have faced a struggle. But why? I asked Steve Wright, chairman of the Licensed Private Hire Car Association, which represents taxis that take pre-bookings.
When reports about this appeared last year, it was put down to cab driver shortages – is that still the case?
Yes. When the pandemic hit, work went off a cliff edge. Many drivers are self-employed and there wasn’t much government support. Some with leased vehicles lost their cars, and don’t forget licensing fees or renewals. It’s catastrophic.
