Coventry taxis seized in safety crackdown
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... -25486332/
DANGEROUS taxis including some with illegal tyres and defective brakes were seized by police during a Christmas safety crackdown in Coventry.
A total of 23 private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriage taxis travelling along Foleshill Road were stopped during the blitz .
Officers from Stoney Stanton Road police station, along with taxi licensing officers, benefit investigators and officers from the Vehicle Operator Services Agency were on hand to conduct checks during a three-hour operation.
Of those stopped and checked, 15 were found to have defects and their drivers were stopped from using them as taxis until the faults were corrected.
Four of those with defects were Nuneaton and Bedworth registered taxis. Two of the four were issued with penalty points and a fine.
The remaining 11 were Coventry City Council registered vehicles.
Among the defects discovered were illegal tyres, defective suspension, steering and brakes and meters not giving an accurate time, which could lead passengers to be overcharged.
The operation was carried out on December 23.
Pc Dean Wainwright, of Stoney Stanton Road police station, said: “The operation - particularly with such bad weather at the moment - is very worrying, as most of the defects are down to routine maintenance.
“There is no excuse for having a taxi with bald tyres, even if the taxi is on the road 24 hours a day, seven days a week with different drivers.
“All it takes is five to ten minutes to check all the lights are working, the tyres are in order, and just general checks of the vehicle.
He added: “One of the main issues is drivers are not securing the disabled ramps in the rear of their vehicles, which pose a significant trip hazard to passengers.
“All it requires is the driver to do up one screw after use to secure it.”
Since the taxi operation was launched in January 2007, 738 vehicles have been examined with 298 of those found to be defective
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