Cab Checks: Over Half Found With Defects
06 October 2009
More than half of taxi and private hire vehicles inspected as part of a multi-agency operation in Scarborough were found to have defects, it has been revealed.
Of the 39 vehicles randomly selected last month, 21 were rated as having a defect – six of which were taken off the road immediately.
The action was taken for offences such as worn and defective tyres, while five delayed suspensions, giving drivers a minimum number of days to rectify problems, were handed out for worn brake pads, defective shock absorbers and CV boot splits.
A further 10 vehicles were given advisory notices for minor defects during the operation, which involved Scarborough Council, North Yorkshire Police, the Vehicle Operator Services Agency and HM Customs and Excise.
Una Faithfull, the council's licensing manager, said: “We were pleased to work with the police and other agencies in undertaking this vehicle check inspection but were disappointed that so many of the vehicles had defects.
“We take the safety of the travelling public very seriously and it is important that licensed drivers adhere to the law with regard to vehicle maintenance, tax and insurance to ensure the safety of all road users.
“In view of the poor results we will be carrying out, as a matter of urgency, more snap inspections and we will be taking firm action where vehicles are found to not be fully roadworthy.”
The aim of the inspections was to identify defects with taxi and private hire vehicles such as headlights being out, problems with indicators, illegal tyres and worn handbrakes.
TC Dave Burlingham, of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, added: “Police carry out many joint operations to help keep our roads safe. Although people may think some of the defects are minor faults, they still have the potential to cause accidents.
“It is important for the safety of not only the driver but all other road users that vehicles are well maintained and roadworthy.
“We are committed to improving road safety in North Yorkshire and these operations will continue as long as we find drivers breaching safety regulations.”
Source; ScarboroughEveningNews.co.uk
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