Taxi Driver Online

Bid to call time on unlicensed taxis


POLICE are urging pub-goers to use licensed taxis to ensure they get home safe after a night out.

Revellers are being reminded about the importance checking legitimate licensed taxis before jumping into a cab.

This message is just part of Humberside Police's Stay Safe Campaign – a summer safety drive that has highlighted other issues, such as women's safety and not drinking to excess.

Javed Akter, owner of Scunthorpe-based Ocean Taxis and treasurer of the North Lincolnshire Taxi And Private Hire Association, said it is very simple for customers to make the necessary checks.

He said: "If anyone is not sure if the taxi is licensed they should also check the registration plates, which are located underneath the number plate at the back of a vehicle or inside windscreen.

"We have also introduced licence stickers on both the passenger and driver side doors so that it is visible from all angles of the car. If you become unsure when you have entered the taxi, you can always ask to see the driver's badge, which has identification on it.

"Often, passengers who have had a lot to drink don't give a second thought to their safety on the way home, but the checks are really simple and they take no time at all."

A spokeswoman from Humberside Police said: "When you have finished your night out, the two things most people think about are getting a takeaway and getting home.

"By this time, people have often had a little too much to drink and many don't give too much consideration to how they are getting home.

"In and around Scunthorpe, there are a large number of licensed taxi companies that operate on a Friday and Saturday night to ensure that people get home safely and police would encourage people to plan their journeys before they go home and not to travel alone.

"Police work with a number of partner agencies, such as NightSafe staff and the local authority, to ensure that people get home safely and anybody suspected of driving an unlicensed taxi is dealt with accordingly."

source: http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/

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