Taxi checks hailed a success
A debut taxi check initiative with City of Wolverhampton Council has been hailed a huge success.
Blaby District Council licensing officers teamed up with Wolverhampton colleagues, Leicestershire Police and the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) to carry out the surprise inspections.
Taxis were stopped, drivers given a time to attend the Council’s Whetstone depot and the cars then rigorously checked on at least 40 items, from seatbelts and switches to braking and suspension systems.
The aim was to ensure all vehicles were safe and suitable for use. In total 15 taxis were inspected, all of which were licensed by Wolverhampton City Council.
Four taxis were given advice on slight defects and three were found to have no issues. Actions were taken on the rest which failed the checks.
Under Blaby District’s taxi licensing conditions cars have to be inspected every six months to ensure taxis operating in the area are kept legal, safe and in good condition for customers and other road users.
However, with the rise of ride apps and more demand for taxi services, increasing numbers of taxis not licensed by Blaby District Council operate across the area.
City of Wolverhampton Council are a significant licensing authority for around 2,700 ride app drivers who live in Leicestershire alone. They were keen to work with Blaby District to improve the quality and safety of taxis operating in the area.
Involving Wolverhampton colleagues in our enforcement action meant they had a broader picture of how their licensed drivers were faring locally and were able to take immediate action on vehicles not meeting the required compliance and safety standards.
Councillor Les Phillimore, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Community and Environmental Services, said: "Christmas is always a tremendously busy period for taxi use so it’s the perfect time to carry out compliance checks with so many on the road. Our priority is to ensure vehicles are safe for everyone and if they’re not then they are taken out of action.
"This is the first time we have partnered with Wolverhampton for such an initiative but I’m sure it won’t be the last. We hope to commit to a joint licensing agreement so we can easily share information. This means more vehicles on our streets can be checked to ensure they are safe. This has got to be good for everyone."
A City of Wolverhampton Council spokesperson said: "We take our licensing responsibilities seriously and our officers work proactively across the country, wherever our drivers work, carrying out regular operations with partners to protect the public and ensure they travel in safety.
"We will continue to support Blaby District Council and others to carry out further compliance operations such as this to make sure vehicles meet the requirements to carry members of the public. This includes cracking down on taxis using 'ghost plates' which are illegal."
Councillor Les Phillimore
Portfolio Holder for Community and Environmental Services