Why Is It That Taxi Drivers Think Speed Limits Don't Apply To Them?

Driving throughout Oxford and/or Oxfordshire can be a bit of a challenge at the best of times, but why is it that Taxi drivers appear to think that speed limits don't apply to them?

No matter whether you drive in the City, or the County, you will always be subjected to harassment from other drivers, who generally are right up your backside wanting to push you to go faster. Obey the speed limits here and you are the odd man out!

In particular, my own experience is that Taxi drivers rarely comply with the 20/30 mph speed limits in and around Abingdon Road, Botley Road, St Giles, Woodstock Road, Banbury Road area's. They are presumably driving faster than they should be to collect the passenger and/or get the job over and done with quickly, to move onto the next pick-up so maybe it's all about money!

When the pubs and clubs kick out in the early hours of the morning driving at 20 mph along St Giles is a joke, it just doesn't happen! They drive as if escaping  from a flame tied to their tails, why are they allowed to get away with it?

Presumably they are out to make as much money as they can, dodging in and out of the bus lanes when it suits them, but at what cost to public safety and why should they be allowed to get away with it anyhow? I will be doing my bit and writing to Thames Valley Police shortly.

Whenever, and on the rare occasion that we have taken a taxi into Oxford City and the driver has exceeded the speed limit, I have politely asked him if he wants paying for the journey. Inevitably, and in poor English he asks "what you mean" ? I tell him to obey the speed limits or he won't be getting paid and further I will report him to the Local Authority who can take his licence away, that slows them down!

Just had a response from Thames Valley Police who basically said we can't be everywhere, but in the event taxi drivers are caught speeding they will be dealt with robustly.

What was the point of writing?

There are a lot in Oxfordshire that fit that description as well Mick. In the main they usually stink of the food they cook at home, it hangs on their clothes, like smoke does.

Don't get that from London Cab drivers.

Respectable lot of geezers them!

It's not just cab drivers either. I am constantly amazed at people who feel the road law don't apply to them. I see people using turn only lanes to shoot past all the cars waiting their turn to go straight and the offenders almost always cause an accident and then they have the nerve to get angry when another innocent motorist who is obeying the traffic law "gets in their way".

We've become a world of people who feel entitled to what we want when we want it and to h*** with anyone else who plays fair.

I am not a great lover of the general populace and I feel very strongly that years of commuting in and out of the city is a major contributing factor.

I read with interest the comments about taxis. Now, having driven extensively in the UK from South to North and East to West I think I am in a position to comment.

You folks have nothing to complain about. No seriously! Until you have experienced the minibus taxis in South Africa you have no worries.

They ignore ALL the road rules. They stop in the middle of the road to drop or pick up passengers - including motorways. They cut in front of other vehicles, use turning lanes to go straight and hurtle down the verges.

Some have been caught with cardboard brake pads and a mole wrench in place of a steering wheel. I find that being able to cope with that when I visit the UK driving is a doddle. The drivers are very couteous and law abiding. By comparison with those in SA. Even private motorists drive badly as they emulate the taxi drivers.

Most of the time the police don't stop the taxis because too many cops have been shot - the taxi drivers carry anything from a pistol to an AK 47 asault rifle.

Have a good evening and drive safely everyone.

Wasn't sure about adding something to this thread, but everyone you really can believe what Syd says about taxi drivers in SA (and most of the other drivers too).  There isn't a single rule of the road that the taxi driver's here bother to obey and that includes stopping at red traffic lights!! Overtaking on double solid centre lines, or on your left hand side on the gravel verges.  It truly is a nightmare most of the time!

I found driving in England an absolute pleasure after driving here, I actually could relax and enjoy the driving (until I came to some of those very narrow lanes you call roads, in general our roads are wider!)