Random thread-taxi drivers

Anne Cordelia Shirley · by **Anne Cordelia Shirley** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:23 pm

Not enough of a rant for Let off Steam.

There's a child on our road who gets picked up for school in a taxi every morning. He's got severe special needs and goes to a special school quite a distance away so wouldn't be able to take a bus, which is fair enough. However, every single morning the driver beeps to let him know he's outside. And if the child is not ready to go, he'll beep again and again. This is at about 7.45 a.m. I've noticed this myself when we've ordered taxis for the past while, rather than get out of the car and ring the doorbell, they'll simply honk the horn to let you know they're outside. Is it just me or is this a bit rude and inappropriate for a built-up neighborhood where there could be people trying to sleep after a night shift, home sick and trying to rest or trying to get a baby to sleep? What's wrong with ringing the doorbell?

Mari yay · by **Mari yay** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:31 pm

We usually use the same taxi driver, he always beeps when he's outside, but that's not an early morning. In any case wouldn't you usually be twitching the curtains waiting for the taxi driver, surely they know when he'll be outside and they'd be on the way out the door? Beeping more than once seems a bit unnecessary.

R2theB · by **R2theB** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:33 pm

You're right, they're just not bothered getting out of the cars. Pah, I have such a problem with 90% of taxi drivers, it's totally unfair on the good 'uns but I can't help it, have had countless negative experiences. A friend left her wallet in a taxi on Sat night and the guy went through a good bit of effort to get her phone number, dropped it off on his way into town the next day and wouldn't take a penny off her. I will NEVER meet this taxi driver, convinced I'm cursed with them, but nice to hear they exist!

Finicky Fi · by **Finicky Fi** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:36 pm

I usually get a missed call from taxi drivers.

Smileykaz · by **Smileykaz** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:47 pm

Now that I think about it, any taxi I've called to the house/my parents house has just beeped the horn. Normally I'm watching the road like but usually yeah they beep once. Rarely do they get out and ring the bell. If I order a taxi from a restaurant for example they ring my phone when they're outside.

Never really thought about it. It must be annoying alright to be on nightshift say and to get woken up daily by something like this.

I doubt anybody could do anything about it though.

Isn't there something about beeping the horn outside of an emergency...is it illegal or something? Am I making that up? I thought there was something in the rules of the road that the only time you should blow your horn is in an emergency/if someone is about to be involved in an accident? Is that right?

Anne Cordelia Shirley · by **Anne Cordelia Shirley** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:51 pm

I think you might be right Smiley, I vaguely remember that question from the driver theory test yonks ago. The woman next door to me works nights as a nurse and commented on it to me the other week, so I'm not the only one who's noticed. I'm just not sure its worth causing a fuss about. The boy's mother kind of has enough on her plate with his problems, and its not like its a major disturbance. But then when I was thinking about it, I don't know why its acceptable to toot the horn, surely its just politer to ring the bell of the house when picking up any fare.

Jacqueline Hyde · by **Jacqueline Hyde** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:55 pm

I think what you're thinking about Kaz is a time thing where you're not allowed to beep your horn unless it's an emergency between certain hours of the day in a built up area. Not sure what those hours are though. Think it's 23.00 to 07.00

You could be right though Kaz

Mari yay · by **Mari yay** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:57 pm

ACS, would you not contact the taxi company? Surely it's on them, it's not really the person's fault who's ordered the taxi. If you contact the taxi company and let them know it's going on, they may stop.

Anne Cordelia Shirley · by **Anne Cordelia Shirley** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:57 pm

Is it permitted to sound the horn in a built-up area at night-time?
It is, but only in emergencies, between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am.

Had to google it to make sure! This is from the the Rules of the Road.

Anne Cordelia Shirley · by **Anne Cordelia Shirley** » Tue May 08, 2022 8:59 pm

Mari yay wrote:ACS, would you not contact the taxi company? Surely it's on them, it's not really the person's fault who's ordered the taxi. If you contact the taxi company and let them know it's going on, they may stop.

I don't know if its a taxi company or a private driver, as the plate on the car has no company on it and sometimes doesn't have a plate at all! I'm not sure if its worth causing hassle about.

Mari yay · by **Mari yay** » Tue May 08, 2022 9:04 pm

Anne Cordelia Shirley wrote:I don't know if its a taxi company or a private driver, as the plate on the car has no company on it and sometimes doesn't have a plate at all! I'm not sure if its worth causing hassle about.

That's weird.

Smileykaz · by **Smileykaz** » Tue May 08, 2022 9:06 pm

Ah ok, it's only after dark kinda that you shouldn't sound the horn. I knew there was something about that.

Really isn't anything you can do ACS I don't think. It's not the Mam's fault like and once the day gets started regular everyday noise is allowed.

It wouldn't be worth the hassle to say anything, like you said the Mam has enough on her plate.

FoundHome · by **FoundHome** » Wed May 09, 2022 7:45 am

Bus Eireann/dept of education give out these contracts to taxi drivers on a yearly basis. If you have a complaint talk to the Dept. However I do think there may be rules about them leaving their vehicle and/or having contact with the child without the presence of an aide. They definitely can't leave the vehicle if there is another child in the car. Regards to the excessive beeping, I understand it's annoying but if this mum had her child ready on time there wouldn't be a need for it. Maybe this mum is constantly late which then effects subsequent pickups???

drummerswife2b · by **drummerswife2b** » Wed May 09, 2022 7:58 am

Im a bus escort. So my job is to sit in the taxi and collect the children and supervise etc. there is approx 20 buses/taxis servicing 2 special schools and each of those has an escort on it although I think a mainstream school taxi service may not need one (just asked my driver as our company do both) and one driver had 2maibstream kids didn't need escort, got a 3rd child and did need one. Also one car has only 1kid with an escort so I don't know what the rules are. The Cie are in charge of the drivers, the dept looks after the escorts.

Anyway with regards beeping. I hate it. I hate people driving away from my house beeping saying goodbye regardless of time. I just think it is so rude. With my job I hop out and knock on the doors (most would be waiting) but I can do this as the driver is still on the bus and my kids are great. I know some buses that the drivers get out but I also know the owner of our company beeps (even as im getting out).

I wonder if you spoke to the driver and asked could he maybe phone them. It's worth a try.

Alsgal12 · by **Alsgal12** » Wed May 09, 2022 12:43 pm

Mari yay wrote:
Anne Cordelia Shirley wrote:I don't know if its a taxi company or a private driver, as the plate on the car has no company on it and sometimes doesn't have a plate at all! I'm not sure if its worth causing hassle about.

That's weird.

It's not weird- those drivers have direct contracts with the HSE and dont have to be part of a taxi company.

ACS if I was you I'd go out to the driver and ask him politely to not beep the horn more then once as it is causing a disturbance. I'd say that's head-wrecking alright.

I think taxi drivers are perfectly entitled not to get out and ring the bell- like if its lashing rain, that driver either beeps his horm from teh comfort of his car or else has to walk up a driveway to ring the bell and if its lashing rain he then has to sit in his car in wet clothes for hours? Also my H2B has been given out to by customers before for ringing a bell as he "woke the child" etc etc and "why didnt he just beep the horn" and they would have come out. Cant please everyone :wv

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