Help Keep GTA Roads Safe This Holiday Season – Don’t Drink and Drive
Leave your car at home and hire a designated driver
It’s the most wonderful time of the year; Christmas parties, family gatherings, New Years Celebrations.
Many of you may not know, but this is one of the slowest times of the year for those in the Limousine and Taxi industry. December is one of the slowest months out of the year for us. With the exception of New Years Eve, which is obviously our busiest night of the year.
After the 2nd week of December we see a drastic decline in the number of business travelers so many nights our drivers are just sitting around hoping to get a run. Why do I mention this?
Officers working on the RIDE program in Peel region are seeing staggering amounts of people who are continuing to drink and drive, and are beginning to get frustrated.
“Twenty-three days into the 35-day blitz, Peel police have charged 116 drivers criminally and issued 167 driver’s licence suspensions. To date, they’ve checked 32,088 drivers at spot checks set up across the region.” Mississauga News
Drunk drivers threaten the safety of everyone sharing the road. Have a friend be your designated driver or hire someone to do it for you.
If you call ahead and ask us for rate, mention that you want a ride because you don’t want to drink and drive; we will try to offer you a rate that fits your budget. Call around and compare prices. There is no shortage of limos and taxi’s in the Greater Toronto area. It is a lot cheaper to get a taxi or limo, than it is to get your car out of the police impound. Not to mention the fines and demerit points on your license.
Many of our regular customers hire us to drive guests home from their Christmas parties. It’s a wonderful gesture and a great way to make sure that your guests can really enjoy themselves at your function. We work on Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
This holiday season please be responsible. If you know you are going to have a few drinks, don’t wait until the day or night of your party. Plan ahead and arrange a ride home.
You’ll be glad you did.
Check out the MADD Canada Homepage.
Visit us online for a free quote – M&M Limousine Toronto
3 Ways to Reduce Cell Phone Use while Driving
A cell phone ban is coming to Ontario later on this month. It is long over due. For many years we’ve seen an increase in cell phone carrying drivers with little regard to the effect it has had on distracted driving.
I was driving behind somone the other day going 90 km/h in the left (aka passing) lane. Needless to say, he wasn’t passing anyone. Then he started swerving in and out of the lane, crossing over to the middle lane then correcting his vehicle… My first impression was ‘dude must be drunk…’ Then I realized it was 11 am.
When I finally passed him, I noticed that he was totally engulfed in a phone conversation and was totally oblivious to the motorists that were going insane driving behind him… I think every person that drives in Ontario should have a cell phone, I just don’t think they should be using it while they are driving.
What happens when driving is your job? You need to call the office and get instructions and usually you’re on a tight schedule. Transportation providers are going to need a new more effective system.
For over a year we have implemented a few changes that have resulted in significantly less cell phone airtime for our drivers.
3 ways to reduce cell phone use for Limousine & Taxi fleets
1. 2 Way Radio
A lot of our contact with our drivers used to be phone calls under 20 seconds in length. Short phone calls such as ‘What is your exact location? / I have dropped off the passenger etc. Not a cheap proposition at the end of the month because of cell phone providers charging by the minute.
All of our drivers now carry a cell phone that is equipped with 2 way radio for quick conversations.
2. Text Message / Email Dispatch
All calls are now dispatched via text or email to the drivers phone. Drivers no longer need to try to memorize addresses or write down instructions while driving. We can dispatch the order and they can check whenever they have safely pulled over.
3. GPS Tracking
I was very hesitant in getting a GPS system for our vehicles. I thought it was too expensive an option to undertake during an economic downturn, but I have been very happy with the results. I no longer have to continually check in with drivers to find out locations. I can view all our vehicles in real time on my desktop. This has eliminated hundreds of short phone calls to find out drivers locations.
GPS tracking has also helped in monitoring our drivers habits. I know how fast they were driving at any given time and how long the car was just idling (wasting gas and adversely affecting the environment.)
Implementing these steps to your fleet should help you in becoming more effective in curbing distracted drivers.
For everyone else that doesn’t have a driving job – talking on your cell is a distraction. You need to focus on the task at hand. Share the road responsibly.
If you have any other suggestions, let us hear them –> @mandmlimo on twitter
Toronto Limos victims of a double standard
About a month ago, the Provincial Government ruled that Airport limos, that are mainly licensed by the City of Mississauga, can continue to pick up passengers in the City of Toronto without a plate to do so.
What is the Government’s stance on Toronto licensed vehicles picking up in other municipalities?
Today I had a customer request that I pick him up from the Hilton on Airport Rd. A City of Mississauga inspector followed both my drivers and refused to let them pick up my client. Causing a scene in front of my confused customer.
I asked my customer to leave the Hotel property so that my driver can pick him up. He walked to a different location and the inspector continued to follow my driver to prevent him from picking up my passenger.
What is with this sort of aggressiveness? Do they get paid by the ticket?
I am absolutely incensed at this ridiculous double standard. Since the Provincial Government decided to get involved in the City of Toronto’s business, I would like to know, what is the ruling for this situation?
Can the City of Mississauga continue to prevent City of Toronto licensed vehicles from picking up pre-arranged passengers?
How to avoid being a victim of Credit Card fraud in Limos or Cabs
Take a few precautions to save yourself from stress later.
If you travel often and use your credit card to cover expenses chances are you’ve had a few charges come through on your statement that you don’t recall. That $125 hotel bar tab, a $85 charge from some random tattoo parlour in NYC or that $60 charge for a cab from your hotel to the Airport.
But what happens when you notice that you’ve been overcharged for that cab ride. $60 becomes $80 pretty easily. Although you may think that your credit card is the safe way to pay, what you don’t know is who is processing these charges.
When you pay in a retail store or a restaurant, your payment is processed and then you receive your receipt. When you use you credit card in a taxi or limo, the driver fills out the charge on a credit card slip, you sign, but your payment hasn’t been processed yet. You’ve basically given the driver the right to charge you for his services on your credit card.
So where does this credit card slip go? You would hope that it stays with the driver or goes to the cab company that processes payment and safely stores your credit card information and signature. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
Usually the driver will now take this slip and get it ‘cashed’ by another driver or an independent payment processor (for lack of a better title). It’s a transaction built on convenience for both parties. The driver gets cash that usually goes unreported when paying taxes and the person processing the charge gets a 5% commission from the driver for his troubles. A signed credit card slip is as good as cash for the driver.
Now you get a charge on your credit card from ‘Toronto Taxi/Limo’. How do you track down which Limo Service you used? The credit card receipt you got from the driver doesn’t say his name or cab number. By the time you dispute this charge the driver already has his money and the person who processed the payment will just refund the charge if he’s confronted. However, don’t forget, he has a credit card slip, signed by you that says $80.
How can you avoid this sort of nightmare?
Taking a few precautionary steps can save you hours of trouble later on.
- First and foremost, book with a reputable company. Calling around looking for the best possible price is fine, but you will find that most providers rates are very competitive and you are better off choosing the provider that seems the most transparent and reachable.
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- Just because you’ve booked with a company that you think you can trust, does not mean that they are aware of every drivers transactions. If a driver tells them that you paid cash, they will not be aware that you paid by credit card and will most likely be unable to help you if you receive a fraudulent charge processed by another company/person.
- Many Limo/Cab providers now have wireless terminals in the vehicle. This method is usually very secure and you can watch the driver process the transaction on the spot.
- Get a business card. When you exit the vehicle; ask for a card and the drivers information. Most drivers will try to give you their information hoping that you will be a repeat client. Keep this card until you get your credit card statement.
- Most Limo/Cab companies now also offer the option to give your credit card to the office staff at the time of reservation. It’s not really pre-payment because you’re not charged anything until your transfer has been completed, but at least you are sure that the office of the company you’ve booked with is processing the transaction.
@mandmlimo on twitter.
The Difference between ‘Airport’ Limousines and Toronto Limousines
The city of Toronto had passed a bylaw to end the practice but the bylaw was suspended after the limousine drivers and owners went to court.’ via thestar.com
The provincial amendment ensures the death of a contentious city bylaw that aimed to permit only Toronto-licensed taxis and limos to take passengers to the airport – a short-lived victory for local taxi drivers in a 30-year fight over the lucrative fares.’ via globeandmail.com
The problem here, is that the general public does not understand the difference between an ‘Airport’ limo/taxi and a City of Toronto limo/taxi.
‘Airport’ Limousines and Taxis
- Licensed by the City of Toronto and/or City of Mississauga to pick up fares by lining up at Pearson International Airport.
- Can now continue to pick up fares in the City of Toronto whether or not they have a municipal plate to do so legally.
- 650 plated Limousines and Taxi’s
- Licensed by the City of Toronto ONLY allowed to operate in the City
- Can only be operated by drivers that have a City of Toronto issued ‘Livery License’
In order to qualify for a license you must:
- Have a clean driver record
- Attend a mandatory one week course learning CPR (which costs $300)
- Pay $350 initially and then $200 per year to maintain this license
- Vehicles are tested every 6 months for a full mechanical and cleanliness inspection.
- When lucky enough to secure a return trip from a passenger from Pearson Airport, must then charge $10 more than the ‘Airport’ Limos in order to pay this fee to the GTAA (Greater Toronto Airports Authority)
- Currently Toronto has 3400 taxi plates, 1600 ambassador plates, and 600 Limousine plates.
A decision to continue to allow Airport Limo’s and Taxi’s to operate in the City of Toronto without having to adhere to the above requirements is totally unfair to Toronto Limousines and Taxis.
Currently, an Airport Limousine can pick up a passenger from the airport, bring them to downtown, confirm a return transfer and take them back with no extra charges.
If a Toronto Limo takes a passenger to the Airport and confirms a return trip, we have to register with the GTAA and pay $10.
The City of Toronto Limo’s and Taxis have no problems with the Airport vehicles that have a Toronto plate coming into the City and picking up. But, Airport limos and cabs that are licensed in other municipalities should not be allowed to come into our ‘territory’ and pick up fares that should go to Toronto licensed vehicles.
We pay a lot of money to the City in order to operate legally. If our fares are going to companies and vehicles that are not licensed by the City, then why are we continuing to follow the rules?
The argument that not allowing Airport limos to pick up in Toronto would kill the companies is total nonsense!! All the Airport limo companies would have to do is get a City of Toronto license and go jump through all the hoops that every one else has to.
The Airport limos are very well protected at the GTAA. Peel police are taking care of security in the terminals to make sure unlicensed vehicles are not picking up their fares. Why can the City of Toronto not apply the same rules the Airport has?
The people in the provincial government that have made this decision are either very ill informed or are making a decision that does not make any sense. If they want to get involved, they should begin issuing Ontario plates that allow a plated vehicle to pick up anywhere in the province.
Toronto licensed Limousines and Taxis are fully capable of taking you to the Airport in a clean and comfortable vehicle. Please do not let a few bad apples hurt the reputation of over 5000 well maintained, properly licensed, properly insured vehicles operating in the City.
M&M Limousine (Toronto) 
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