I Didn't Sign Up For This...

I love my job, but I am in constant fear for my livelihood. What could possibly go wrong?
CLARIFYING NOTE
In late 2021 I received a 172 (Duty to give information as to identity of driver etc in certain circumstances). Not a "NIP" or "Notice of Intended Prosecution". A 172 is a precursor to a NIP. A NIP was not issued.
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WHO AM I:
I’m Tom, a London Taxi driver of 6 years. I also have a keen passion for all things London whether that’s; history, geography or a good spot for coffee!
WHY DO I MAKE VIDEOS?:
To PROMOTE and PROTECT The Knowledge of London
And to PRESERVE the high standards of London Taxi Drivers
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:19 - Occupational Hazards
00:49 - TfL's 6 Point Policy
02:58 - Your File
04:21 - Who Controls the Roads?
06:25 - Crossing Lines
09:01 - Endless Restrictions
11:11 - 20mph London
13:52 - Red Cross Code?
14:37 - No Identity? No Problem!
17:00 - The Cyclist!
21:13 - My Letter
22:50 - What Can Be Done?

[@puppet-head]

Dont worry six points is the minimum required to drive for uber

[@HCProds1]

lol!

[@abdulnoor4241]

Lol

[@boysnips]

😅😅

[@snoopdoggydave1]

😂

[@Joetibbles]

😂

[@tonyperkins6925]

I am so glad you as a Taxi driver are making this video. I am a van courier located outside of London and myself and others I work with just do not want to go there because it seems that it is just a matter of time before a fine comes through. You need to get more taxi drivers involved, maybe they will listen when the mayor changes. 30 years? 40 to pay for all the fines that they will retrospectively give people.

[@Krixyz]

Bet that within 2 weeks You'll be slapped with warning from TFL because of that video 😀

[@SiegfriedDerDrachentoter]

Sadiqs gremlins are blood sucking

[@lagergolf]

Was thinking the same thing 😂

[@andrewhill400]

Aldwych is a perfect example of how TFL are making roads more dangerous for pedestrians. I used to breeze through it both directions in my bus and then it turned into a nightmare for traffic and people trying to cross the road.

[@xcf5587]

Maybe I’m being too suspicious here, but do they care? Have a few accidents and they can blame cars more and close more roads.

[@jaypeper]

I've repeatedly cycled on that specific cycle lane ;) Just because we're smaller and gone faster doesn't mean we're not there

[@ryanmitcham5522]

Couple of points you mentioned in your 7:10 Cycle Lanes: Yes you can go into a cycle lane with a broken line, for example to move around a vehicle waiting to turn right, You can't do that with a solid cycle lane. And yes if there is a solid cycle lane with plates with times of operation, then outside those times they are effectively considered to have a broken line. 7:30 Advanced Stop Lines: You made a slight mistake here, but they are commonly misunderstood. You only commit an offence if you cross the first stop line and enter the box while the light is on red. If you have already crossed the first line when the light turns red you are required to stop at the second line and no offence has been committed. Another example is if the light turns amber on your approach and you are unable to safely stop before the first stop line, but can stop before the second line, again you are required to do. To an observer arriving 30 seconds later it could look like you've gone into the cycle box when you shouldn't, but you haven't. Which is why offences relating to ASL's must be witnessed you crossing the first stop line while the light was red. You simply being in the cycle box while on red proves nothing, a passing police officer can't give you a ticket simply because they see you in the cycle box, you have to be seen crossing the line on red.

[@harrparr8988]

You'd think taxi drivers would learn the highway code before they got their job. Jeez.

[@countbasiethebicyclemessen4321]

Fave 20mph is still the Eaton Square bit of the King's Road. No buildings on either side, not even any gates for pedestrians to enter the gardens. Cromwell Road runs it close though.

[@jamiejosh96]

The occupational hazard of being a cab driver does not outweigh every job. Trade people all over the country are one injury away from loosing their livelihood…. There are many jobs that could come to an end with no warning

[@brickwallshd9237]

Great video mate the frustration is being felt by every driver and hats off for using your platform to highlight

[@Christopher-m81]

Hi Tom, As ever thank you for the great content. There is nothing more I appreciate than a KZbinr like yourself putting time and effort into the weekly content you post.

[@kiradotee]

10:12 but this sign doesn't apply to you Tom? It's not a sign forbidding access to the road. And it's not a sign forbidding loading. You're stopping / loading a passenger, not parking and leaving the vehicle.

[@emeraldbonsai]

The payment device thing is a pain but it makes sense it’s to prevent drivers from using ones that steal cards. Maybe they should have a second separate payment device on the other side of the car to help in case one isn’t working

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Very true. Also TfL approved ones have a printed receipt which is very good to keep it uniform

[@abigfatken4151]

Every journey recently that I've taken has had card payment taken via a handheld device such as 03:30! Seems easier and quicker to use than clicking the buttons to setup contactless on the fixed devices. Can I refuse in order to use the fixed device? Should it be reported?

[@CaboloNero]

@@abigfatken4151No don’t be a grass

[@greigs9384]

@@abigfatken4151Drivers who rent their taxis often have little say in what card systems fitted, some take 4% or more of the fare, hence lots have their own Izettle or Sumup devices which take a much more reasonable 1 or 2%. It’s yet another crap TfL policy which was mandated with little thought.

[@hughjanus7354]

@@CaboloNero true, not being a grass is a nice idea but what if you're dealing with a thieving kunt? And how would you know in advance that this terminal is kosher and the other isn't? That's why they have standards.

[@HCProds1]

Where’s the vids gone?

[@markevans3488]

10:13 surely that sign means permit holders only can PARK there. How do they get deliveries from couriers etc ?

[@saltypopcorn2708]

Enjoy your holiday Tom. You're a credit to the trade.

[@Craig-wp3pz]

Enjoy the break! 👍 You've highlighted the same reasons that made me want to stop driving Truck, the capital first, now stopped all together, got me an E-Bike too 😮

[@TheAviationChannel]

7:59 I used to drive that 148 route. Our duty cards were really tight. We’ll do just about anything unprofessional like straddling those lanes just to try and catch up to those duty cards since the route would usually come across a lot of unpredictable traffic causing us to fall behind on schedule but because we were in a bus, it felt like the police weren’t gonna bother us as much, and it wasn’t like the garage was going to receive a fine if caught by a camera. Really common amongst drivers to straddle lanes to cut through or gently ‘bully yourself’ through into traffic. Feels like a different story with taxi drivers though unfortunately, as it almost seems like they get treated like any other car driver on the road.

[@paragsatyal6891]

Did anyone also notice 2 (possibly 3) cars running red in that same clip at the intersection?

[@HT-jy7dv]

Your skin has got a lot better- good to see. I have bad skin as well so understand your pain…

[@MoreMrSavage]

The struggle is real, Tom. I feel you mate.

[@paulbrenson6476]

As an ex London cabbie after watching this you would never catch me driving through London let alone do in the job I once loved

[@LukeTR2000]

I drive a bus and the company I work for has a limit of 6 points. I agree with policies like this to some extent. Mainly that the public knows you're not breaking the law repeatedly and it allows for 1 mistake to learn from. The bigger problem I have is the private hire vehicles around where I drive a bus tend to block roads where there are no overtaking allowed and the police just sit there like it's normal. I had to pick up from a lay-by bus stop that had 2 hackney carriage licensed vehicles in and one private hire so I had to stop parallel in a less than optimal position blocking them from moving off so that the customers could board my bus safely. Thankfully the police did walk past and ask them all to move but it infuriates me that TfL are so on top of taxi and private hire vehicles in London but outside of London there's a blind eye turned to all traffic offences all over the country. I just hope that a certain Mayor will get his act together and get the police enforcing like they should be once the powers are handed over to him later this year

[@peterstanton8109]

Well done Tom for pointing all this out great stuff ,from a London cabbie .

[@pinderworld-travelenthusiast]

@tomthetaxidriver, I actually enjoy watching your videos, but this one in particular was very good. As a London black cab driver myself, it truly resonated with me. Honestly, my friend, hats off to you. All the very best with your future plans. ☮️💜☯️👊🏾👊🏾

[@alexcuthbertson9808]

Hi Tom happy new year & I hope your loving your holiday mate just quick question did you send me a reply to my comment not wearing a jacket or is it a spam/fake can’t wait till your back in taxi doing vids missing them badly 👍

[@JamesBathie]

Exactly why I gave up the knowledge would love to be a cab driver but the thought of working so hard to get it and lose it straight away is ridiculous.

[@andyg54889]

Tom Thankyou for doing this video !You are spot on with this, I’ve been a London Taxi since 1994 and always loved this job but lately as you say “I didn’t sign up for this” The additional and unnecessary stress that’s been put on us by TFL and other agencies has made this once fantastic job not such a fantastic job anymore which is sad to say about being a world famous London taxi driver. I truly believed I would drive a Taxi until I was unable to drive any longer 😢 now I’m constantly in fear of either being suspended or revoked because of all these restrictions that are now put on us. Keep up the good work mate and be careful out there. Be lucky

[@chrisfinch2807]

Great video Tom Spoke to you a few times, Been a cabbie for nearly 25yrs over the last 6 years became very anxious when I'm working really suffer from job anxiety. Glad I haven't got another 25 years of driving a cab.. I rule for us No rule's for cyclists,electric skateboards. Can't wait for khan to be replaced..

[@TheDemonarta]

you can cross into a dashed cycle lane if necessary, to turn left for example

[@paulhoughton5266]

I am a driver and a cyclist and there are a lot of cyclists giving all cyclists a bad name. In the 1970s we had cycling proficiency lessons and test and all that stayed with me, u give hand signals to indicate turning and always follow the traffic lights. They should bring those lessons back.

[@iamaduckquack]

They had the lessons in 2001 and I saw kids doing the lessons last autumn.

[@LifeAtSea50]

Great video Tom, very informative and detailed with some great hints of sarcasm 🚖👍🏻

[@prettymiffedbrit]

I love this video! Completely agree!

[@Robslondon]

Great video Tom.

[@countbasiethebicyclemessen4321]

Can you still use the Bat Cave for Aldwych spins?

[@wombat1238marsupial]

Great video Tom, you give the cyclist 1.5m room which causes you to straddle the double white lines while doing 22 mph and a u-turn to drop your passenger off, there goes your license on one journey.

[@jjfarr72]

Obey the law then. Don't overtake of there isn't enough room, don't do illegal u-turns. Problem solved

[@davidcunnington8316]

Good summary of the many challenges we face, Tom. Amusing distraction at 13.40, with a rat on the wall of Hyde Park, behind your right shoulder 😂🐀

[@jarrodhofmann3219]

11:45 there is another point I drive coaches through 20mph London and the amount of times I had overheating problems due to the low speed was ridiculous

[@clarenceishmael9615]

Absolutely right! I didn't sign up for all this crap either. Hence why after 27 years I've chucked their licence back at them and told them to 🖕🏾off! 😂Great video. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@felixdb04]

Who’s here from Faith’s video with Danny Aarons?

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy it too!! 🙏🏻

[@123sumom]

Great video thanks

[@greigs9384]

The Hartington rd restrictions in Chiswick should now include taxis, Hounslows cabinet member for transport approved this last year. Signage seems to take ages to reflect the changes.

[@Blueskinedbeast]

Great shot at Tfl, they will no doubt ask you to remove this, I hope you dont!

[@countbasiethebicyclemessen4321]

"Address! I don't do postcodes! I'm a licensed taxi, not a bloody Uber!" The standard response when anyone pokes a phone at a cabbie.

[@gerryaustin8687]

Do you think they are trying to get rid of drivers?! That is what it sounds like

[@getnetlemma7460]

Extremely important presentation and useful information for Black cab drivers 👍

[@204driver]

Great video Tom

[@frostfirefn9572]

Hi Tom if you don’t mind me asking where did you buy that London map from

[@walterfillingham]

The call centre for dealing with parking tickets, infringements, parking permits for Westminster Council is in a small town 15 miles outside Inverness called Dingwall.. I know, I worked there for 2 months, was the most nerve wrecking job I ever had! We even helped people find parking spaces whilst they were on their mobile.. was funny knowing they had no knowledge of where we were… ironically once a customer in Westminster area speaking to me figured out we were not in London, when I said we in a small town called Dingwall, he couldn’t believe it as it’s where his parents lived ! Even worse as Dingwall has no traffic officers and cars just park illegally wherever they like

[@KM-wl1tp]

You forgot to highlight with a little arrow, the cars that went through red lights 🤣

[@epsilonaurelius4787]

Come to North devon, taxis around here drive like they'd get a fine for doing less than double the posted speed limit.

[@iheardyoulikeme]

Class video as always, Tom. You broke everything down so diligently. Super frustrating seeing our city turned into a lawless joke of a place. However, I don’t think your mate Sadiq gives two honks.

[@CaboloNero]

I drive home and think the same mate. Made it through another shift. Really not good for the mental health. 😢

[@trapdoor123]

Some of these points are essentially you complaining that you're not allowed to break the law, but others are very fair and would be worthy of a collab video with @ashley_neal!

[@cityuser]

It's not about him being "allowed to break the law", it's about him not losing his job and career if he does! A driver who runs a red light at full speed (like the lorry) absolutely should, but simply accruing easily obtained, minor, and inconsequential violations - many of which could be simple mistakes - shouldn't leave an otherwise good cab driver without a badge.

[@clarehaven6068]

@@cityuserExactly, and many of which are almost impossible to avoid because of the incomprehensibly incompetent way in which the highways are being manipulated making them disfunctional at best.

[@joevictor53]

Agreed. I'm not going to blindly say I agree with everything he said because some of them are him complaining about not being able to break the law. But others are totally valid points

[@DavidM2002]

It comes down to simple statistics. Since a taxi driver is likely to be on the road for X times as many hours / miles as the average driver, then that taxi driver is likely to get X times as many tickets. The logic and arithmetic couldn't be any simpler. That is a basic gross unfairness. I think the lashback by taxi drivers could take any number of creative ways without being too disruptive to their passengers. Thanks Tom and I hope this gets sorted out.

[@MadBiker-vj5qj]

I remember one time, maybe more, when they all just decided to Trafalgar Square, all at the same time. It was chaos LOL.

[@Stinger2020]

Is there a website to book black cabs in London?

[@dunebasher1971]

16:43 It's likely that none of the high-end shops on New Bond Street have CCTV angled in a way that would pick up the plate of any vehicle passing their shopfront. At best you'd see the side of the bin lorry, which obviously wouldn't help identify it as precisely as is necessary. There's also the further complication that police can only *request* CCTV from third parties, they cannot insist that it is provided, and contacting multiple shops and trying to get CCTV from them (often with no result) takes up more police staff time than you might realise. So the police have to apply a "proportionality" test, in other words, did the offence result in an outcome that justifies the outlay of so much police staff time? In this case, since nobody was actually hurt and no damage was caused, it's likely that it was deemed not proportionate to go to the non-trivial lengths of trying to exhaust every possible avenue for obtaining that vehicle's plate. TL, DR - despite what people think, CCTV is not a magic bullet and doesn't cover every incident everywhere.

[@Steveoqotsa]

Khan’s London,he’s destroying that city….enjoy Thailand Tom 👍

[@steveguy5884]

Hello Tom Love your videos. I’m currently on the knowledge and this scares the crap out of me😢 and to be honest wether or not to carry on😢😢

[@oldmanc2]

Carry on mate. We need professionals driving black cabs

[@soulless393]

Don't worry just concentrate on it and you will hopefully succeed on it, best of luck!

[@wojciechkwiatkowski5464]

Leave it, it's a scam. You will feel like shit when you finish, no respect from authorities.

[@Plumbing1stFix]

I’ve just quit the knowledge thanks for ya help lol.

[@H0LT-85]

Khan’s absolutely ruined London.

[@kojakxx]

24:45 It's March 2024 Tom, come back to KZbin! I can't think of a better Mayor of London candidate than you. Well spoken, knows the City (literally) like the back of your hand, likeable, honest and hard working.

[@juniorallen9]

Same with HGV pal, so over regulated

[@psansom]

Cycling Mikey really picks the softest of targets in Hyde Park.

[@soufianeamajane6845]

thank you tom for this video that explains everything about what’s really going on for us. i just can’t understand our license says that we do operate all london didn’t say all london except restricted. i was very frustrated by getting three tickets using Tottenham court road on 16/12 saturday I though that was sunday i explain that to LTDA they say to me you have to pay them all even was genuine mistake that cost me 145£. the only advice i got /don’t vote for khan/. which definitely i won’t. thank you for all tom i am always inspired by you ❤.

[@pizzahead2919]

Love the shot of you mentioning the average speed being slower than cyclists just as a cyclist went past, brilliant timing

[@LifeofOscar]

I hope you have a good break away from making videos. I love your content and will be watching when/if you come back with more videos. 😁😁

[@thomasdutton4600]

6 points is crazy Tom. And it’s so easily done 😩

[@JBMtravels]

I've seen taxi drivers use over card machines even tho they have ones fitted in the back. You are my favourite London taxi driver.

[@CaboloNero]

I use a handheld cc machine. The one in the back would cost me £100’s of pounds a year to use in processing fees over the handheld. It’s worth the risk

[@daylen577]

20:26 holy crap that clip.. There's this guy on KZbin who does deliveries in New York and he always shows off how he can cycle with no hands while balancing a drink on top, and this clip shows very clearly what happens when that goes wrong. Cycling with anything in your hands should be illegal everywhere.

[@joevictor53]

BikingDC does the same. He does deliveries in Washington DC and will hold the drink in one hand while cycling and sometimes even balances the drink on his hand and plays around with it. He's obviously showing off but it's so stupid and reckless. It just takes a simple mistake from him or someone else for someone to get injured. It could be him slipping or he could hit a pedestrian. Plus that's someone's food that they paid for that you're messing with. One time he does get hit by someone pulling out from being parked on the side of the road and he still does this BS

[@chrisjones5411]

Miss you Tom 👍

[@classiccoffeecab1509]

Brilliant video matey 👍

[@paulfianatravels]

Brilliant video tom superb

[@DieZeitungsente]

I think the problem is that the points system is the same for private and professional drivers. Professional drivers are disadvantaged by the mere fact that they drive much more and thus are much more likely to receive a point. If a separate system for professional drivers (or even separate ones for taxi drivers, lorry drivers, bus drivers, etc.) were in place it would probably make the taxi business even better and safer as such a system could target “taxi-specific” offences more precisely.

[@markporter7774]

Couldn’t drive a black cab in London , anymore!

[@tobeytransport2802]

I also can’t get 6 points on my license as a driver in my first 2 years of driving. I’d say it’s not that hard but then I live in a part of Kent that isn’t riddled with 20MPH zones and speed cameras, here you are more trusted to drive without breaking the rules than you are in London, but that isn’t to say the law is completely unenforceable here, you really do well to drive in London and avoid all these traps! (I totally agree with fining speeders but 21 in a 20 or even ‘better’ 71 in a 70 is not speeding)... if I ever go into London I take the train to get there and then use tubes, busses, my own two feet and of course black cabs to get around... absolutely love the place but don’t envy those who drive there, or those who live there, I get a kick of energy when I go but I also feel absolutely whacked with tiredness after a day, three days maximum.

[@yeor2000]

21:06 because when cars drive dangerously, it can very easily cause death to other road users, when a pedestrian or cyclist does it then it’s much less likely (yes I know there are some cyclist caused road deaths, but statistically very few). Most of the points you have made in this video are London’s way to discourage driving, it is the least sustainable form of travel which really has no place in a major city like London (apart from necessary trips that physically can’t be done by foot/bike/public transport)

[@MrGorobu]

So the cyclist riding into and damaging a vehicle should have to pay damages because...?

[@usernameheda]

20mph on a bike is the same speed as 20mph in a car

[@BandidoDescalzo]

@@usernameheda even a small car is significantly bigger and heavier then a person on a bicycle

[@usernameheda]

@@BandidoDescalzo speeding causes accidents, especially the lawless nature of cyclists. They create so many dangerous situations with their recklessness.

[@andrejf4379]

The difference between cyclists, pedestrians and cars is 1600 or even more kilos which translates to about 20 times more dangerous. So cyclists get about 20 times more leeway on traffic rules. With your lorry example you showed yourself that car drivers get a lot of leeway too, even though he, other than all the cyclists you showed, really endangered your live.

[@mlx39996]

and cyclists can force drivers to take evasive action with their 1600 kg vehicle because of their rule breaking... people have died because of this...

[@King-Kazma]

@@mlx39996Thiat is the other reason drivers are getting a lower speed limit. If people are being injured and killed due to drivers suddenly swerving to evade hazards, they need to be slowed down to give them time to react to any unexpected hazards.

[@mlx39996]

@@King-Kazma i don't disagree with 20 mph being the standard for most city roads in london (although I don't agree with strict enforcement of them, i'll discuss that below). i disagree with cyclists not being held to the same standards as drivers. cyclists should stop at traffic lights, not ride the wrong direction in one-ways, stop at stop signs, stop at zebra crossings when there are pedestrians etc. in my opinion, enforcement shouldnt necessarily be "stricter", but should be based on whether someone is intentionally or unintentionally committing that offence. an unintinetional offence should still be punished, but not to the same level as an intentional one. my issue with london roads and being 20mph is that often, the roads don't feel like they should be 20. they are wide and straight. ideally, a driver shouldnt need to constantly look down at their speedometer. instead, it should be obvious if the speed that they are travelling at is safe or not. as a very new driver (recently passed test) who drives like a grandma, i still find 20 mph on many roads in london too slow and therefore can accidentally stray. conversely, the smaller city that i live at, the 20 mph roads are narrow or highly pedestrianised which makes me *feel* like i need to travel at 20. i think that lowering speed limits to 20 is okay if the roads are redesigned to feel slower. prosecuting drivers who unintentionally speed is far less useful than prosecuting those who intentionally speed

[@pappy9473]

​@@mlx39996A person on a bicycle , in the outrageously vast number of cases, is NOT a danger to other road users. Big vehicles weighing tons that hurtle around London are categorically lethal if colliding with other road users. Vision Zero puts the onus for maintaining safe roads on the desks of those responsible for the transport system as a whole. Hence, 20 mph ...and appropriate road design.

[@icy_swoosh]

@@pappy9473 if I had a pound for every time a cyclist almost hit me on my walk to work in central London cyclists jumping red lights and not caring about zebra crossings, I would be a millionaire. If a cyclists hits a less able person, it can also be fatal. So yes, cyclists pose a lot of danger to other road users as well but have 0 accountability for their actions. Which is a really big problem.

[@tanwirtaj8348]

Amazing video well covered and all valid legal points illustrated as a licensed taxi we are the criminals in society to all government agencies then when they ask for our help we do a grand service to them but get treated as guilty until proven innocent

[@stuartofblyth]

I certainly don't want to be in a taxi driven by an older driver who has impaired vision (2:44).

[@Nabhoover]

Especially not by a driver who doesn't think he should pull over to read the phone (which Tom doesn't seem to mention isn't an offence...)

[@sw01ller]

13:40 my biggest hate is incorrect use of hazard lights. I’m a professional driver with 25 years experience and people from cars, Lorrie’s and busses are all guilty. It’s so annoying when you see someone you think is indicating to pull out only to get closer having slowed down for them to realise they have hazards on and the left one was blocked by other parked vehicles. If you’re being towed, YOURE NOT A HAZARD. If you’re parked up, YOURE NOT A HAZARD. Sort ya lives out!!

[@Kane1993x]

HGV drivers mostly use the hazards when parking up in bad spots to make deliveries to try indicate that we are working around the vehicle. Also lets cars that cant see infront know that their not in a queue but parked up.

[@jamiejosh96]

@@Kane1993xyep, as you are meant to do btw… the professional driver doesn’t know the rules of the road 😂

[@sw01ller]

@@jamiejosh96 if you are causing a hazard then yeah!! Use them. That’s not what I said though was it. It’s usually cars, vans and quite a few wagons that are just parked up doing fuck all.

[@jamiejosh96]

@@sw01ller what lines are they on?

[@sw01ller]

what? fuck you on about? if you were a professional driver you'd know you shouldn't use hazards unless you're a hazard. poor driving and parking skills does not make you a hazard in this respect. you thinking that using your hazards to excuse your terrible driving does not mean you're right! also, fuck you!

[@frankhall2441]

Tom I have watched your video's over the last few years with a lot of indifference some I liked others I did not. Like you i am a cab driver,over forty years I must say though you have hit the nail right on the head well done and keep it up

[@russayres5287]

Nice pertinent rant Tom. You forgot TFL blindly ticketing (via camera evidence) for box junctions without actually knowing the law. We drive coaches in the capital and have an issue with our exit being clear when we enter the box, but another vehicle dashing into the space leaving us stopped in the box. TFL seem to think the offence is stopping in the box junction. We've had many tickets overturned when we've requested the timestamp images immediately before and after the one they send us of the vehicle stopped in the box junction. Still, I suppose your illustrious mayor has to plug his financial hole somehow... Keep up the good work

[@shaun__3]

It's not about going against any law, it's about being better than the law and treating it as a minimum standard. A taxi driver with 9 points probably is not a safe driver for the public to the standard TfL wants. The phone example is strange too, holding a phone is against the law, there's no excuse that isn't already written in law (like calling for Police). TfL want oversight (and rightly so) of the taxi drivers. I'm not sure if it's meant to come across like you don't like these checks and measures, but all are necessary to ensure that London taxi drivers keep the public safe.

[@KevinSummers-zg7fj]

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore! Says it all.

[@clarehaven6068]

Commendable that you even felt able to make this video highlighting the ideologically possessed, vindictive and nonsensical way that TFL approach the regulation of London Taxis, Tom. Without doubt being treated constantly as a problem to be rid of by TFL rather than part of the solution as the world’s most highly qualified taxi drivers providing outstanding customer service is depressing, worrying and saddening for those of us who worked so hard to qualify and take pride in what we do.

[@timwilkinson8023]

Well said Tom. Those who drive in London to make their living exist on a carpet of egg shells. You have managed to make your points without being too moany. The real bug bear is the hypocrisy in enforcement. It is simply not good enough for Santander to deny accountability for their service. The police can enforce properly but with so many other calls for service they choose not to. This creates the very divisiveness on our roads that you have articulated. Best of luck and hope to see you in March.

[@matthew3774]

There’s a load of stuff in that law that everyone driving has done at some point. Laws like that make me uneasy

[@andrewpycroft]

I think your point about 20mph zones are pretty invalid. The average speed of traffic in inner London is 11mph and outer London it is 19mph and by implementing a forced 20mph speed limit will save lives.

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

And for night time drivers driving along the Euston road?

[@willwearden]

Let’s, for the sake of charity, say you’re forced to do 20mph from King’s Cross to Westfield (W12). That would be 14.7 minutes, plus traffic lights. If it were 30mph, it would be 9.8 minutes. Not an amazing loss of time due to the 20 limit. And the actual Euston Road section is a tiny part of that, so you’re maybe losing at most 2 minutes from the 20mph limit? I agree it’s irritating, just like the frustration of a slow driver in front of you (Millbank snails!). I drive as well as cycle, and I can see your points. But the actual costs aren’t that great, and it would be hard to get public acceptance for these measures if taxi drivers had exemptions.

[@whichwasher2007]

A science study found that to save all lives. Everyone needs to travel at less than 25mph. So yes. 20mph will save all lives. But the real cost is the economy. Both to the individual and the government. As well as increased air pollution. From anything that isn't 100% electric. For every 1 mile traveled at 20mph from 30mph. Takes an additional 1 minute. Which is a 50% extra time. So mathematically. Driving at 20mph takes years off people's lives every day.

[@andrewpycroft]

@@whichwasher2007 Money over life? what a sad way to look at things. The average speed is already lower than 20mph so time has already been lost so your point is invalid. You can still travel by other means at very high speeds safely, eg. Trains. Travelling in cities via other means will save you time. Driving in London is slower than cycling or public transport, minus buses because they are slow AF but yeah if you feel like you would sacrifice peoples safety for those extra saved few minutes that's fair enough

[@andrewpycroft]

@@whichwasher2007 also many people assume that at lower speeds extra fuel is used and more pollution created. In fact the reverse is true.

[@philipcubitt]

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the trike ghetto blasting light fantastic bikes commonly known as rickshaw's in and around Covent Garden - Shaftesbury Avenue part of London

[@dannylen8830]

11:40 Wonderful timing

[@paulsexton2996]

Great video Tom, very in depth and interesting

[@ap9970]

Have seen more Uber drivers than cyclists using the cycle line on Westbourne Bridge (or as my customers call it "the paint pot tester bridge"), but my bigger issue is the junction at the end, were you still have the old and new markings visable in the wrong conditions, so many people end up in the cycle line.

[@peacearoundtheworld7254]

Hi Tom the first 3 numbers on your badge are lucky no's so you will always be ok.....

[@zackaplowitz]

7:45 no, that’s not how it works and you should know that! The offence is if you cross the first solid line while the traffic light is red. The highway code (have a read) clearly states that if the light turns red after you’ve crossed the first line, you must stop at the second line. But really you should be trying to keep the cycle box clear until you can clear the whole junction, as with a pedestrian crossing.

[@paulthetrainspotter]

Well obvi u should have a read entitled karen

[@zackaplowitz]

@@paulthetrainspotter ?

[@joevictor53]

​@@paulthetrainspotterthey're a Karen because they corrected Tom's mistake? Muppet.

[@vetworker]

I’ve got a headache after watching your video. How you stay sane I don’t know. I’m just a normal’ driver on the very quiet streets around west Suffolk but even that is a headache with the idiots on bikes without lights, pedestrians walking out in front of moving cars without paying any attention etc. I’m all for sensible laws but I couldn’t believe it when you mentioned London bus drivers are allowed 12 points, this is just ridiculous and doesn’t make any sense. It’s about time there was a crackdown on bikes, pedestrians etc as well. Keep safe out there 👍👍

[@cabbieoo7]

Top video mate 👍

[@Abc-li1ij]

Are you on the green?

[@cabbieoo7]

@@Abc-li1ij yes

[@ChristosLouridas]

Wow stuff you don't know When you're not living there. Wish I was but damn well done for the info shared mate. gg

[@sahu]

Enjoy your time off, Tom.

[@itmkoeln]

I was looking into driving through the Eurotunnel from Hamburg via the Netherlands, Belgium and France this year. in a BEV. Which if it had a UK ev license plate going to London was not an issue with the ULEZ. It is more so one with a German Electric license plate (German electric cars are eligible for the E plate. Meaning any German license plate for a bev is Electric car. Which could be identified by it ending with an E at the end of the Number. The fact that you have to register them online up to 2 weeks in advance. Otherwise your BEV would be fined in the ULEZ... It is not that foreign registered ULEZ compliant cars are unidentifiable.

[@petercotton89]

Same with us HGV drivers, alot of companies will start disciplinary procedures if you get 6 points on the job. And I don't disagree with it, as professional drivers we should be held accountable to a higher standard.

[@joewebb8228]

Completely agree with all of your points raised mate. Especially that horrible grass in Hyde park. It seems to me in my experience that motorists are just a cash cow for any organisation that wishes to profit from a drivers misery of having to deal with London’s dire road network. Perhaps they should start looking into fining cyclists for all their offences, or perhaps fining utility companies for constantly digging up the same patch of road and causing horrific traffic jams. That might level things up a bit.

[@markjasper5663]

It’s not just that drivers are a cash cow, although they are. It’s policies designed to make driving more difficult than travelling in London by other means… reducing vehicle journeys by increasing difficulty and cost of driving. For example, removing pay&display bays and charging £14/hr for the remaining ones and monitoring them by mobile cctv. It’s not a result of oversight, it will not be reversed, get used to it - with the reelection of the mayor it’s only going to accelerate. Most Londoners don’t realise how things have changed, and they care even less.