Taxi Driver Online

Crackdown on 'unsafe' taxis

A CRACKDOWN on unsafe and poorly-maintained taxis led to eight drivers out of 19 checked having their licences suspended by Derby City Council.

Enforcement officers worked with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and police to check licensed vehicles.

The operation was in addition to the routine inspections the council carries out.

Licences were suspended on three hackney carriages and five private hire vehicles because of defects.

Four vehicles were found to have tyres below the legal tread limit, others had poor suspension and excessive oil leaks, one vehicle had an accident-damaged bumper and one private hire vehicle was taken off the road because it had a bald tyre, cardboard in place of a passenger window and a door that would not open from the inside.

In four cases, the vehicle inspection agency issued their own prohibition notice requiring the vehicles to get a new MOT certificate.

The council said it carried out the checks last Tuesday to protect public safety at a busy time of year.

Councillor Margaret Redfern, chairwoman of the council's licensing committee, said: "I'm horrified at some of the defects that have been discovered and I am relieved that we've managed to remove unfit cars from the road, particularly in the run-up to Christmas; a time when taxi usage is higher than ever.

"It's vital that customers are confident they can use taxis that are legal and, more importantly, safe."

The licences will be reinstated once the repairs are carried out but taxi drivers criticised the council as "heavy-handed" and said it often took the council longer than a week to reinspect the cabs, meaning they lost out on a week's worth of trade and income – around £250.

Taxi driver Gulfraz Nawaz said: "Enforcement officers and police were at the railway station in Derby from 6pm until after midnight.

"They were stopping drivers and inspecting the cabs and, while we understand about safety, we have to consider the income and well-being of drivers as well.

"If they get their licence taken off them while they get their cab fixed, it can sometimes be more than a week before the council reinspects it, which means they are losing out on money.

"This time of the year is one of our busiest and drivers can't be without a licence for that long.

"If the council is going to take licences off us, they need to make sure there is a garage open straight away where we can go to get the cabs fixed and re-inspected quickly."

But the city council said that, of the eight vehicles suspended on Wednesday, seven had already been re-tested.

Councillor Bob Troup, cabinet member for housing and the environment, said: "We're not trying to take vehicles off the road.

"The bottom line is we need to protect the public and we'll achieve this by continuing to work with the taxi trade and their representatives to ensure that the majority of hard working and reputable drivers are not being given a bad name by the minority who are in breach of their licence conditions and putting passengers at risk.

"I would urge all drivers to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained and safe.

"Driving a licensed taxi with bald tyres is irresponsible and dangerous."

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This can be avoided by simply maintaining your vehicle



Clearly they don't understand about safety or they would realise that safety comes before profit



Why do the council need to make available a garage immediately. These drivers have the time to ensure their vehicles are fit when the garages are open



Enough said

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

My mate was dropping at the hotel next to the station rank whilst this was going on. The rank usually has 20-30 taxis waiting. Guess what, there were none at all.

_________________
Grandad,

Four vehicles were found to have tyres below the legal tread limit, others had poor suspension and excessive oil leaks, one vehicle had an accident-damaged bumper and

I take it they don't have an age limit in Derby, and I wonder how many more they would have got on a weekend

Mine passed on Friday night when our lot were pulling . They were pulling anything that moved on Friday even 25 seater minibuses. AFAIK everything passed barring a few from the normal ones who run theirs on a wing and a prayer.

Do you laugh, or do you cry?

_________________
IDFIMH

It was new cardboard

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Sounds a bit Blue peter all that missing is the sticky back plastic

Oh dear me.The council were out again this morning with the Old Bill.Needless to say several cabs disappeared swiftly.They even ordered 2 cabs off the Morledge rank down to opposite the council house for inspections.
I am really surprised about the 'cardboard window' PH car.Our enforcement officer is red hot so I am amazed anyone would attempt to get away with such sheer stupidity.You just wouldn't would you?
There is no age limit but the older Metros in particular receive regular 'special attention'.An age limit was rejected recently by the council due to the recession.

Talking of said Enforcement officer,rumour has it that he was suspended a couple of weeks ago.Apparently he took a plate off a cab that had passed it's plate 5 days previously.The garage owner was none too impressed and called in VOSA to inspect......Oops! They found no faults!
No right minded cabby should mind legitimate faults but I for one object to the accelerator being floored then being told there is smoke coming out of the exhaust.No [edited by admin] Sherlock! There are too many occasions when cabs are pulled because of an 'opinion' ie too much play in bushes etc.

Regards and 'Up The Rams'
Steve

They pulled one of ours that went in for test at 9am on Friday morning, the driver told the copper who said I don't care go to the Council.