Taxi Driver Online

This has been rehashed by the Lancashire Telegraph, but this is the Facebook post on which it seems to be based. Can't see an official news release as such, but sometimes police and councils just post stuff like this to Facebook. This is from Ribble Valley Council's Facebook page, so it doesn't have a headline as such.

But not a great deal to see here. And kind of gives the impression they're quite reasonable about getting stuff sorted out rather than making an example of drivers

Although the one with the two dodgy tyres maybe got off a bit lightly


Taxi safety checks help keep the public safe in Ribble Valley

Taxi enforcement officers from Ribble Valley Borough Council, in collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), conducted spot checks in Ribble Valley to ensure the safety and reliability of taxis in the area.

During the inspections, a total of 11 private hire and hackney carriages were thoroughly examined, nine of which were licensed by the council.

Out of the total inspected, eight vehicles were found to be of the required standard.

One Ribble Valley licensed hackney carriage had two tyres with tread depth below the legal limit, A Blackburn with Darwen licensed private hire vehicle had an insecure passenger seat. Both vehicles were immediately taken off the road but allowed back into service after the necessary repair work had been carried out.

A Ribble Valley licensed private hire vehicle was found to have a faulty indicator which was repaired immediately, and an ABS fault which was repaired within six days.

Councillor Ian Brown, chairman of the council’s licensing committee, said: “The safety of passengers in the borough’s taxis is the priority.

“The majority of taxi operators make sure their vehicles are properly looked after and safe to be on our roads. These regular checks help make sure that those standards are maintained, and highlight those vehicles that don’t meet the grade and take them off the road if necessary.”

The council has set out a number of steps people can take to make sure they are safe when using hackney carriages or private hire vehicles.

• "Yellow plate" private hire vehicles must be pre-booked. Only "blue plate" hackney carriages can be flagged down or hired from a taxi rank. It is illegal for private hire vehicles to pick up passengers in the street, unless the ride has been pre-booked.

• Before entering a taxi, passengers should ensure that the driver is wearing an identification badge that has not expired. This is an important step in verifying the authenticity of the driver's credentials.

• Passengers are advised to check the identity of drivers against the photographs displayed on their identification badges. This further enhances passenger safety and security.

• Personal information should not be divulged to taxi drivers. Passengers must exercise caution and protect their privacy during their journeys.

• Prior to the commencement of a private hire journey, passengers are encouraged to agree upon the fare with the operator to avoid any misunderstandings. Metered hackney cab fares, on the other hand, are set by the council.

Ends

Ref: NR200924 JR
Date: 28th February 2025
Further details for the press are available from Ribble Valley Borough Council’s communications unit on 01200 414483 or 07438 162349.

So how do passengers check that the driver is wearing an ID badge that has not expired, before entering a taxi

And even brushing past the first bit, how does someone check the photos and dates etc without getting right into the driver's face

And how does that work if the passengers are only in the rear?

Answer is either that the driver is constantly removing his badge so people can stand around in the street inspecting it, or it just doesn't happen in reality, and all the above is just wishful thinking from people sitting behind desks and going home before dark. My money's on the latter

Note how the Lancashire Telegraph version conveys a whole different vibe from the kick off, in my opinion at least

Rest of it just looks like a straight bat rehash of the above.

But a headline and opening few words can set the tone for the whole thing, and sway readers accordingly


Three unsafe taxis taken off the road in spot checks

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... ot-checks/

A taxi inspection in the Ribble Valley found three vehicles with 'serious' defects.