Cabbies baffled over legal tread


POLICE safety checks saw a dozen taxis in Dumfries banned from operating until defects are sorted out.

The twelve, out of 20 vehicles checked, were found to be "in breach of licensing conditions" during a clampdown at the weekend, said a police spokesman.

One disgruntled driver believes conflicting advice over legal tyre tread may have been behind the shocking figures.

The driver, who asked not to be named said: "We need to know what the legal tyre tread requirement is because our licences are being put at risk.

"The traffic police have been pulling us over constantly and checking our tyres.

"One of my colleagues has been charged for having two bald tyres, but we are not 100 per cent sure what the proper legal requirement is.

"The council told me it’s 3mm. Taxi drivers use a certain tyre company which has a branch in Dumfries and one in Stranraer.

"When I phoned the Dumfries branch I was also told the legal requirement is 3mm, but the branch in Stranraer told me it's 1.6mm for taxi drivers.

"The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) also told me it's 1.6mm for taxi drivers.

"There seems to be one rule for taxi drivers in Dumfries and a different one for drivers in Stranraer and we don't know where we stand.

"We're getting conflicting information.

"My pal who got done for the bald tyres might not have been charged if he'd been stopped in Stranraer.

"If the legal requirement really is 3mm, why is the council not informing the tyre garage in Stranraer?

"We have to get our tyres checked every week to make sure they're legal, and if we don't, we get suspended from work.

"But when you're getting conflicting information from two branches of the same company, it's really confusing and there could be repercussions."

A council spokeswoman confirmed the driver had contacted them about the confusion.

She said: "When concerns were reported to the Licensing Service a copy of the contract specification was faxed to the garage concerned, for immediate attention, to remind their staff of its terms.

"The company office has been contacted to obtain an explanation, assessment and action plan for future inspections."

A police spokesman said the number of cars taken off the road "looked bad" but added that the officers were simply doing their job.

The drivers were served with "prohibition notices".

source: http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/

Cabbies baffled over legal tread


POLICE safety checks saw a dozen taxis in Dumfries banned from operating until defects are sorted out.

The twelve, out of 20 vehicles checked, were found to be "in breach of licensing conditions" during a clampdown at the weekend, said a police spokesman.

One disgruntled driver believes conflicting advice over legal tyre tread may have been behind the shocking figures.

The driver, who asked not to be named said: "We need to know what the legal tyre tread requirement is because our licences are being put at risk.

"The traffic police have been pulling us over constantly and checking our tyres.

"One of my colleagues has been charged for having two bald tyres, but we are not 100 per cent sure what the proper legal requirement is.

"The council told me it’s 3mm. Taxi drivers use a certain tyre company which has a branch in Dumfries and one in Stranraer.

"When I phoned the Dumfries branch I was also told the legal requirement is 3mm, but the branch in Stranraer told me it's 1.6mm for taxi drivers.

"The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) also told me it's 1.6mm for taxi drivers.

"There seems to be one rule for taxi drivers in Dumfries and a different one for drivers in Stranraer and we don't know where we stand.

"We're getting conflicting information.

"My pal who got done for the bald tyres might not have been charged if he'd been stopped in Stranraer.

"If the legal requirement really is 3mm, why is the council not informing the tyre garage in Stranraer?

"We have to get our tyres checked every week to make sure they're legal, and if we don't, we get suspended from work.

"But when you're getting conflicting information from two branches of the same company, it's really confusing and there could be repercussions."

A council spokeswoman confirmed the driver had contacted them about the confusion.

She said: "When concerns were reported to the Licensing Service a copy of the contract specification was faxed to the garage concerned, for immediate attention, to remind their staff of its terms.

"The company office has been contacted to obtain an explanation, assessment and action plan for future inspections."

A police spokesman said the number of cars taken off the road "looked bad" but added that the officers were simply doing their job.

The drivers were served with "prohibition notices".

source: http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/

The law is very clear on this you cannot have tyres below the set 1.6 mil, and council that says they must be changed at a depth above this are daft,
Most tyres start off at 8 mil when new so whats the point in changing them when they get to 4 mil

At 1.6 millimetres in wet weather it takes an extra car length (8 metres) to stop at 50 mph than if your tread was 3 millimetres.

Dearie me!!!!

8 Metres??? What car are they using? It must be one of my old stretched limos.