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| Quarter of Leicester's cabs 'too old to use' http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29623 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Aug 04, 2016 11:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Quarter of Leicester's cabs 'too old to use' |
Quarter of Leicester's cabs 'too old to use' under proposed eight year taxi age limit A quarter of Leicester's taxis could be hauled off the city's roads if the council presses ahead with plans for stricter age limits on cabs. Currently the upper age limit on taxis is 11 years but official are considering bring that down to eight. If this were to happen 410 of the current 1,650 hackney carriages and private hire cars operating in the city would be too old to use. The city council says the move would restore taxi age limits to their 2013 level, and ensure cabs on the road are safer and less polluting. Cabbies have said the move, first outlined at the height of a bitter dispute between the council and the RMT union over a new misconduct regime for drivers, is punitive. City officials say a far higher proportion of older vehicles fail their twice-yearly safety checks at the council's vehicle testing centre. Figures from the city council's licensing team show that beyond the age of eight years, nearly half of vehicles (43 per cent) failed their regular safety checks. The failure rate rises to about 56 percent after 10 years. They are also considering removing the artificial 325 limit on the number of Hackney carriages they license, inline with the Department for Transport's guidelines. Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby insisted the move was not linked to the dispute which led to a series of rush-hour go-slow protests before Christmas. He said: "I'm determined to improve the city's air quality by cutting vehicle emissions, and ensuring we have a modern, safe fleet of taxis operating in the city is part of that. "There is strong evidence that an eight-year age limit may be more appropriate for all taxis, because beyond this the failure rate begins to rise significantly. "I would like to see all new hackney carriages to be ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), and also for existing vehicles to be replaced eventually with ULEVs. "Having large numbers of older taxis on our roads delays them being replaced with newer, lower-emission vehicles, which has a very significant impact on air quality in the city." Chairman of the Leicestershire Public and Private Hire Association Mike Ward said cabbies could face a big expense replacing older vehicles. He said: "If taxis keep passing their tests and are safe it should not matter how old they are."Some drivers are not mechanics. They jump in their car, make money but don't look after their vehicles and that can be a problem. "If people do care for their taxis they will be safe however old they are." One RMT hackney cab driver, who did not wish to be named, said: "This is Soulsby's revenge because the cabbies stood up to him. "It's just spite and it proves our point the council does not deal respectfully with us." A public consultation is being launched to give people a say on a number the issues. There will also be a chance will have a say on proposals to ensure all new hackney carriages are ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), which have lower running costs and will help improve the city's air quality. The consultation runs until August 31. Taxis make up 11 percent of traffic during morning rush-hour in the city centre, so are considered an important focus for measures to cut nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. Leicester's current 11-year age limit is similar to those in other major Midlands cities, including Coventry (10 years), Nottingham (12 years) and Birmingham (14 years).London currently has a 15-year age limit, but is now introducing a decommissioning policy for taxis over 10 years old. To take part in the consultation, visit: consultations.leicester.gov.uk Read more at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/quart ... j8jur34.99 |
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| Author: | heathcote [ Thu Aug 04, 2016 12:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Quarter of Leicester's cabs 'too old to use' |
Once again Council blames all air quality problems on age of TAXIS,what about every other vehicle that visits Leicester,do they not emit exhaust fumes. A well maintained vehicle irrespective of its age passing the test is entitled to be licensed after all we all know of a brand new vehicle having failed the test on initial(1st) licensing.Again what about the vehicles that are presently licensed or this Council would like people to purchase and license where the manufactures fiddled the emissions. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Thu Aug 04, 2016 12:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Quarter of Leicester's cabs 'too old to use' |
heathcote wrote: Once again Council blames all air quality problems on age of TAXIS,what about every other vehicle that visits Leicester,do they not emit exhaust fumes. A well maintained vehicle irrespective of its age passing the test is entitled to be licensed after all we all know of a brand new vehicle having failed the test on initial(1st) licensing.Again what about the vehicles that are presently licensed or this Council would like people to purchase and license where the manufactures fiddled the emissions. I think this has far more to do with propaganda from the SMMT than a realistic appraisal of the situation the politicians want us to buy more taxis which means more political donations from manufacturers and dealers |
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