Interesting piece, and slightly different from the norm. Of course, it's on-ramp checks, so hardly a surprise that lots of faults found, and no doubt a lot of it is overdone.
But assuming they didn't suspend for just a bulb, or whatever, then certainly not good results
Taxis in Pendle fail spot-check in droves amid safety crackdown callhttps://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... down-call/Cllr Kieran McGladdery, Pendle Council taxi licensing committee chairman, said the results were the "worst-ever" for this type of spot-check.Issues included oil leaks, which could have burst into flames, and missing wheel nuts, he says.
He was highlighting new plans to improve taxi checks required by drivers and taxi companies, which are designed to protect the public.
But there is some disagreement in Pendle about the ideas, the level of consultation and the way forward.
Proposed taxi licensing changes include a new vehicle check-list and penalty system for firms or drivers who fail to comply.
Also a new mobile phone app which ensures genuine vehicle checks are done has been suggested.
Council chiefs have been looking at making changes to taxi checks and licensing enforcement for some time.
The borough’s taxi committee recently drew-up a new safety check-list and proposed penalties, ranging from penalty points to the loss of licences.
Cllr McGladdery said he was alarmed at the taxi spot-checks.
He said: “The spot-checks involved council officers, VOSA engineers and the police escorting taxis to a garage for safety checks. This resulted in 15 of 16 vehicles failing the basic standards and being pulled off the road immediately.
“Some of the failures I witnessed during the spot-check were five vehicles with major oil leaks. The VOSA engineers said these could imminently burst into flames.
"We also saw multiple vehicles with wheel nuts missing – the worst had four missing. One vehicle with the hand brake applied started rolling away. Elsewhere, we saw various bulbs were out among other safety-critical failures.”
A new phone app has also been suggested for drivers. This would ensure drivers perform pre-shift safety checks by using GPS technology which detects movement and timings, and can also request photos.
Cllr McGladdery added: “The latest results are the worst on record. We have noted the impact of the pandemic on finances covering recent years. However, safety is a priority."
He insisted "a death or serious injury is a certainty" without safety improvements from the trade.
Another licensing report said 93 per cent of vehicles had failed in a recent testing exercise.
If the council does go ahead with the new arrangements, there will be a three-month period of training and administration.
Policy committee members have now backed a 'task and finish' group to discuss the safety proposals with trade reps.
But Labour's Cllr Asjad Mahmood said Cllr McGladdery had not held a meeting with trade reps for two years and claimed his Tory colleagues did not support his safety proposals.
Liberal Democrat Cllr David Whipp said the Conservatives' own leader had voted to defer action on taxi safety at the last policy committee meeting.
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