Taxi Driver Online

A quarter of Darwen taxis removed from road in vehicle safety tests

CONCERNS have been raised about taxi safety in Darwen after a quarter of those checked were immediately taken off the road. Police and Blackburn with Darwen Council staff carried out a stop-check of private hire vehicles and black cabs in the town last week.

Of 26 vehicles stopped, seven were removed from the road, and in total 15 drivers were issued with seven- day notices for non-safety related faults. Faults found in those taken off the road included a defective front passenger seat belt, a broken spring, a broken link bar, defective middle seat belt, a non-working headlight, fuel leakage, defective brake lights, bald tyres, a leak of hydraulic brake fluid, defective number plate lights and water in the boot.

One driver was unlicensed, his badge having expired on October 10. The drivers of two vehicles which were potentially uninsured have been told to produce their docu-ments at a police station.

Coun Arshid Mahmood said: “It is extremely important that all vehicles meet safety standards and this operation was a success in terms of enforcing those regulations. “Many problems are quick and easy to resolve but if we kept these vehicles on the road could have resulted in further safety problems.”

Coun Roy Davies said: “I do have some sympathy with the drivers who pay up to £5,000 for insurance, but they pass those costs on to the passengers. "There is no excuse for a taxi that has serious faults.”

_________________
IDFIMH