Taxi Driver Online

Pendle taxis set to be tested three times a year


OLDER Pendle taxis are set to be tested more often - because too many are unfit for the road.

Council bosses have acted after figures showed 41 per cent of cabs in the borough fail spot checks at the first attempt.

Licensing officers have put forward proposals which would mean vehicles more than seven-years-old would be checked three times a year instead of two.

Town hall chiefs say the move, recommended to councillors, would spot and repair faults earlier.

But a taxi leader has criticised the move, claiming a “long-term solution” is needed instead.

Mohammed Akram, chairman of Pendle Taxi Association, said: “I personally don’t think this will make any difference at all.

“You could test taxis once a month but some would still come up with faults.

“What is needed is a long-term solution for all taxis in the borough but that is the council’s job and they should come up with something.”

Mr Akram is due to meet with his members tonight ((TUES)) as the association looks to react to Pendle Council’s proposals.

Currently, tests on the borough’s hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are carried out once a year on taxis aged between one year and three years and twice every 12 months on older cabs.

If faults are found during the assessments, carried out on Friday nights, the licence is suspended and the vehicles are repaired in Nelson or Colne.

Since April 1 last year, 474 tests have been carried out, with 59 per cent of vehicles passing the test first time.

A Pendle Council spokeswoman said: “The number of vehicles failing taxi tests and spot checks is high, at 41 per cent.

“It seems that some vehicle owners are not maintaining their vehicles, nor are they checking for faults.

“A third test on vehicles over seven years old would ensure faults on vehicles are found and repaired quicker.”

The proposals will be put before members of the council’s taxi licensing committee on Thursday.

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

Looking at the Hackney carriage register there appear to be a few aged vehicles licensed.

If the local taxi trade are not seen to be cleaning up their act, i suspect an age policy may either be introduced....or tightened.

Either way....I wonder if it isn't a better solution to actually sort out the main culprits?

CC

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

https://licensing.pendle.gov.uk/protected/wca/publicRegister.jsp?lty_id=35

It would appear all of the drivers are from the asian community?

CC

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

Do they have to use a WAV there or a mixture
forget that just clicked the licence number and they are all saloons, or MPVs

According to the LA website a mixture, but going through the vehicle licenses all vehicles are red, and either avensis or astras!

CC

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

Just been looking at there hack rules and found this
4. Carriage of passengers
You shall not permit the hackney carriage to be used to carry more people than the licence allows.



I thought this was against the law now due to the seat-belt regs.
And it contradicts itself with point 1
A possible 6 kids on the back seat of an Astra FFS

I'm sure such anomalies are a common occurrence throughout the UK

CC

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

We will be getting an upper age limit once its announced next month, 8 years from first registration and off,
No vehicles over 3 years old at first aplication or substitution
The only vehicle allowed to continue after 8 yeras will be the WAVs but they must have 2 tests a year from 8 years

Thats scary...

I do tend to concur with your opinion

CC

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

We had a similar setup but it only applied as far as charging went.

We had a 10p per person extras, 2 kids counted as 1 adult so only 10p was charged.

As far as licensing went it was 5 asses on 5 seats, regardless of wether they were adult or child.

Imagine this scenario, no officer I am not overloaded go and read by-law 12