| Taxi Driver Online http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/ |
|
| Taxis action: 5 taken off road http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10792 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Taxis action: 5 taken off road |
Taxis action: 5 taken off road FIVE Scarborough taxis and private hire vehicles were taken off the roads after a major operation aimed at catching rogue cabbies. But one taxi driver described the clampdown as “heavy-handed”. The checks involved the Vehicle Operator Services Agency, Revenue and Customs Road Fuel Unit, Scarborough Borough Council’s licensing authority and the Benefit Fraud Agency, as well as North Yorkshire Police. The aim was to check the roadworthiness of taxis and private hire vehicles and see that their drivers were properly licensed. In the course of the operation, 39 vehicles were subject to a detailed mechanical examination – of which 15 received prohibitions or advisory notices. Five vehicles were taken off the road immediately for having defective tyres and badly worn brakes, five received delayed prohibitions for offences such as defective lights and suspension joints, while another five drivers were given advisory notices for minor offences such as missing mirrors and worn axle bushes. Sgt Neil Campbell, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “It was pleasing to note that 24 of the vehicles we examined were given a clean bill of health and had no defects. “However, some of the defects found were so serious they warranted the immediate removal of the vehicle from the road. One vehicle had badly worn brake pads and a defective handbrake.We also took vehicles off the road for having defective tyres. “This type of check is carried out annually around the eastern area of the force and our aim is to detect offences before they cause accidents and highlight issues to drivers and operators. “While those drivers given a clean bill of health should be congratulated, the defects revealed send out a serious message that proper maintenance to assure the safety of the public is of the utmost importance.” One Scarborough cabbie, who asked not to be named, said he was unhappy with the way the checks were carried out. He told the Evening News: “I was pulled over while I had a fare in the cab, which I don’t think is right. “I was about to finish my shift and was on Cambridge Street. “They let me drop off my fare but told me to report to the council depot in Trafalgar Street West straight afterwards. At the depot they checked the car over and told me my back brakes weren’t efficient enough and they served a prohibition notice on the car. He added: “I thought the manner in which I was pulled up was overly aggressive – I felt that they were treating me as if I’d done something wrong, before they knew whether I had or not. In my opinion it could have been handled better.” Una Faithfull, Scarborough Council’s licensing manager, said: “Vehicles and drivers are subject to regular checks but it is important to ensure that standards are maintained between planned inspections. “We take the safety of the travelling public very seriously and are following up a number of matters with the drivers and operators concerned.” |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|