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ONE FIFTH OF WINDSOR TAXIS TESTED HAD ISSUES
A total of 47 licensed vehicles were stopped in Windsor recently as part of a multi-agency check.
The check was organ- ised by Road Safety Constable PC Bob Wade and drivers of taxis and PHVs were checked to see if they held the correct licence and insurance. Officers were also checking to see if the drivers had consumed any alcohol.
Out of the 47 motorists stopped, ten were sus- pended from carrying any further passen- gers until defects on the vehicles were fixed.
Licensing officers from the Royal Bor- ough were also on hand to check that all vehicles had the items
they must carry at all times such as fire extinguishers, licence badges and plates. Three drivers also had police penalty points placed on their taxi licence for not having their badges with them. None were found to have con- sumed alcohol. PC Wade told the Slough Midweek: “While I welcome the fact that there were no alcohol issues dur- ing this check, it is very disappointing that roughly 20 per cent of vehicles checked had issues with them, 12 tyre offences is not a good figure when you think about it. It demon- strates the necessity of these checks on vehicles.”
ONE THIRD OF TAUNTON VEHICLES FAIL CHECKS
Taxi firms have been warned to keep their cabs up to standard after almost one third of 45 vehicles stopped in and around Taunton failed an inspection. Taunton Deane Coun- cil licensing officers, with police and VOSA, suspended four cabs and issued nine rectifi- cation notices on stopping them after the school run.
The suspensions, which were lifted later the same day after repairs had been car- ried out, were for two unsealed meters, faulty brake lights and a missing clutch pedal rubber.
The rectification notices were for minor accident damage, missing ‘No Smoking’ signs, poor cleanli-
FOUR AYLESBURY VALE TAXIS OFF THE ROAD
Random safety checks on Aylesbury Vale’s licensed taxis resulted in four vehicles being taken off the road. According to the Bucks Herald, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Thames Valley Police and VOSA joined forces to clamp down
on taxis in the district that are not roadwor- thy, or do not meet licence conditions. Out of 15 taxis inspect- ed, four were suspended with imme- diate effect for vehicle defects. Seven were found to have minor faults ranging from
cracks in wing mirrors to brake pads running low.
The latest spot checks showed a considerable improvement compared with a similar exercise in September when ten out of the 11 vehicles inspected had their licence plates removed.
Every cab checked in a late-night taxi sting on December 12 was found to have a defect. In total, 11 hackney carriages and PHVs were stopped in Ashby and Coalville in a joint operation involving enforcement officers from North West Leicestershire District Council, the police and VOSA officials.
Defects included bald tyres, worn brakes, oil leaks, power steering fluid leaks, broken brake lights and panel
ALL ASHBY VEHICLES HAD A DEFECT damage.
One taxi plate was found to have expired. Four vehicles will have to be re-examined by council-approved mechanics and proof provided that repairs have been made to the remainder before the driver is allowed to work again.
Cllr Alison Smith, the council’s environment spokesman, told the Leicester Mercury: “Disappointingly, all 11 vehicles examined were found to be
FEBRUARY 2010 PHTM
ness, a missing first aid kit, a bent track rod end and faulty wind- screen washers. Cllr Tim Slattery, Deane executive coun- cillor for environmental services, told the Som- erset County Gazette: “The law and licensing processes are in place to protect the public from the use of vehi- cles that could be unsafe and unfit. “The message is that anyone putting public safety at risk will be removed from the road and stopped from con- tinuing their business until safety is ensured. “Taxi operators are advised to take note that the council places a high regard on pro- tecting the public and these ongoing opera- tions will continue.”
DEFECTS FOUND IN HALF OF KETTERING TAXIS
A series of safety checks revealed half of the taxis inspected had defects. Police, council officers and the Vehicle Opera- tors and Services Agency found one or more defects in eight of the 16 vehicles they checked in Kettering on Friday, 4 Decem- ber.
Defects included prob- lems with lights, tyres, seatbelts and drive shafts.
In addition to the offences, one driver had its vehicle seized by the police for no insurance and several are also being investi- gated for not having the correct licence. The safety checks were carried out on licensed hackney car- riages, private hire
vehicles, minibuses and stretched limou- sines operating within Kettering between the hours of 6pm and 11pm.
Councillor Alan Pote, portfolio holder for public protection at Kettering Council, told the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph: “Kettering Borough Council takes these issues very seriously. “For the safety of our community, owners and drivers of these defective vehicles will, where appropriate, face formal proceed- ings.
“By working with our partners to conduct these safety checks we are taking pro- active steps to help ensure that local taxis are safe and legal.”
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defective. “We are considering introducing a charge of £65 for the re-exam- ination of a vehicle in the hope this will send a strong message to taxi drivers that it is not acceptable to carry passengers in a vehicle that’s unfit to be on the road.” Inspector Chris Brown, North West Leicestershire police commander, said: “We will continue to work to target unlicensed and unsafe taxis.”
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