Taxi Driver Online

A two-month operation over a couple of different councils doesn't seem to have come up with much, but at least it provides an opportunity for the usual 'working closely with partner agencies' because 'safety is paramount', kind of stuff


Taxi drivers have licences suspended on the spot in road safety crackdown

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... t-22493897

Serious defects were found with tyres and lights while others failed to display driver badges

A two-month taxi operation has seen cabs taken off the road for safety concerns in the run up to festive celebrations.

So far, three vehicle licences have been suspended across Teesside after spot checks found serious defects with tyres and lights, while five cautions were also issued to drivers and operators in relation to vehicle safety.

Road police officers and licensing officers patrol together, stopping taxis to ensure that they have the relevant licence and ensuring that the vehicles are fit to be on the road.

Some drivers were also warned for failing to display a Hackney Plate, fire extinguisher or driver badges.

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: "Officers generally found good levels of compliance, however – three vehicle licences were suspended for defects with tyres and lights, and a driver was reported for failing to wear a taxi identification badge and another reported for failing to display a licence plate on his vehicle."

Sergeant Mark Kewley said: "It’s really important for the protection of everyone using the road networks to make sure that all vehicles are safe enough to be on the road so that lives are not put at risk unnecessarily.

"During our drink/drug drive campaign we’ll be encouraging people to use alternative forms of transport, such as taxis, rather than get behind the wheel whilst under the influence. We can recommend using licensed taxis as our partners ensure they meet safety standards.

"Taxi operators should regularly check their vehicles to ensure they are a safe mode of transport. As they’re carrying lots of people every day, it’s also important for us to make sure that they’re safe and operating under the correct regulations.

"We’ll continue working closely with our colleagues in the local council to ensure that we keep people as safe as we possibly can."

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, added: "We have a good working relationship with the taxi and private hire trade and operations like this are about making sure high standards are maintained.

"This is important at all times of year but even more so in the run up to Christmas, when demand for licensed vehicles typically increases. We’re pleased to see the operation has found good levels of compliance, with none of the vehicles we license being suspended."

Didn't realise you were supposed to *display* a fire extinguisher


That could have been Sussex. But he got away with it. For months

But, for example, if you lost your plate on the Friday, are you supposed to park up until the Monday? Suppose it's over the festive season, and the council have effectively shut down for the fortnight?

why would you park up if they have shut down who would report you to who

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Indeed, there may be practical reasons why it wouldn't matter

But my question was what are drivers *supposed* to do? I mean, if you ask a 'safety is paramount'-type councillor who's advising punters to check plates and the like, what would be the reply?

Presumably they won't say, "Oh just wait until the council garage is open again, because no one will notice in the meantime anyway."

And, of course, other drivers might not be too happy if an HC rolls up on a rank without a plate, particularly if it's an unfamiliar car, or in a big city like Liverpool where things will be a bit more anonymous. Or if police get involved, say, for whatever reason, even if LOs aren't on the scene.

Unfortunately the official spiel about fake taxis and the like doesn't really accomodate a basic scenario such as plate lost on Friday afternoon, so I was just asking what the official response would be in terms of what a driver is *supposed* to do in such a scenario?

I was just stating the obvious ha ha under normal circumstances we have a phone number for out of hours contact with the enforcement team, one of the things that they have with them are T plates. Temporary plates in other words a plate with a T on it, which we get off them and when the council reopen we will exchange for a new One, but at the moment we have lots of cabs driving around with expired plates on them some of them months old so if you lost oneYou would probably put an old one on or make one up

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I take the view that unless you have a plate on the vehicle (except those that have legal exemptions) you are not licensed. Especially if you are fully aware of it. Unlike some.

Maybe a letter from the council saying that the license is still in place despite the lack of plate is ok, in a similar way councils allow some vehicles to work without a plate.

I know some councils allow vehicles to continue working provided all the renew documents and application are in the council's hands, but I'm not convinced a court would share that view in the event of accident where the insurance company denies liability.

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IDFIMH

I take the view that the council should fulfil their duty of care, and provide the services that they have taken the responsibility to provide, If they fail in that responsibility and you receive a financial loss because of it then wouldn't that Make an interesting court case 8

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Yes, good idea, and obviously feasible for an industrial scale licensing function like Sefton (or the likes of Wolverhampton), but I suspect the majority of councils don't have an out of hours contact number for licensing.


Is that official Sefton MBC advice?


Ah, I always wondered what the T in Mr T stood for

At the moment it's 4 to 6 weeks before you will get a plate
And I don't think the council wants to pay Loss of earnings

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Dear all,

Just a quick message to say that the Council’s last day open is tomorrow and will reopen on 4 January.

Anyone needing to speak to the Taxi Licensing Unit can contact either Carl or Nigel during closedown who will check phones/emails for limited periods each day and they both have a stock of temporary plates. Nigel is 08800 913537 and Carl is 07843 904223 or email taxi_licensing@sefton.gov.uk

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!