I hold a PCV licence and do a regular school run for a private operator.
When I read Lawrence Hailstone's letter [routeone/letters/30 August] I was finally pushed to write to you about Section 19.
I don't for a moment doubt his sincerity, but his comments that he started aged 20 with no PCV licence reminded me why I'm in favour of more regulation of this sector.
I have seen in an organisation where I previously worked, 16-seater minibuses being driven by people who hold a car licence, but are not sufficiently skilled to drive anything bigger.
I have yet to see any observations about the passengers and their safety in any of the discussion. Has everyone forgotten that these are vulnerable people? And that they are being driven by people who have – in all likelihood – got into a vehicle which is much larger than their own car and driven off without any formal training?
We do need to protect the legitimate businesses, but also the people we are there to serve.
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