Bottled It Again?: LTDA Tone Down AdVan Message.

The best thing to come out of Taxi House for many years was the hard hitting AdVan poster, showing the public the true extent of the dangers of using an unbooked minicabs. 

The poster was backed up by a freedom of information request reference number and carried an image that had appeared on TfL's own safer travel at night campaign posters. We know it was having an impact, because the touts and potential predators were getting irate, plus the GMB Union, weren't happy bunnies either.

We also knew TfL would be not be very happy with the content of this poster. 

A certain trade org recently applied to TfL (Under a freedom of information request) for statistics appertaining to minicab assaults and rapes over the last 12 month period. When given the requested statistics, TfL asked for them not to publish, as they may frighten people away from using minicabs. However, they statistics were leaked on social media. 

These latest statistics were obtained legally by FOI request from tha Metropolitan Police, so any complainers haven't got a leg to stand on. 

The original AdVan poster was designed by myself and sent to Steve McNamara who replied that he would put this to the LTDA lawyers. I thought that would be the end of it.

I was amazed and over the moon, when I found that they had posted a similar poster on the AdVan and it was out on the ranks, informing the vulnerable just how dangerous it could be to jump into a minicab without going through the correct channels. 

Unfortunately true to form, we now find that the LTDA have bottled it with the message and dummed down the stats.

The wow factor 154 recorded sexual assaults, have been reduced to just an alleged 32 attacks from Uber drivers. 

Why have the LTDA dumbed down this campaign?

Have they again capitulated to the wishes of the complainers.

It's not just Uber drivers who are attacking, sexually assaulting and raping passengers. Last year there were 154 sexual attacks, only 32 were alleged to be Uber drivers.

There ar now more questions that need answers:

Why have the LTDA dummed down the message?

Who has complained and to who?

Why would the LTDA take notice of any complaints?

Did the LTDA feel that going with the original poster would mar their chances of getting another executive committee member on the board of TfL?

Do the LTDA feel that a seat on the board of TFL is worth compromising public safety and letting down their members and the trade?

Should the LTDA resign from the board of TfL and not seek reappointment?

Being on the board of TfL is a massive conflict of interest which grossly affects their ability to represent both their members and the Taxi trades best interests.

This latest issue is a cop out, designed to appease TfL and the GMB (who also represent licensed Taxis)

If they are going to cave in this easy, then they might as well stick the monkey back on the van, because that's obviously how TfL view the LTDA.

While the organ grinder plays the tune, the monkey dances.

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