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The results of Derby's latest statistics on spot checks was recently highlighted in the local rag October 15th.
From Major to Minor faults and on a scale of 1 to 10, Hackney carriages fared worse with 31% as against 15% P/H.
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Derby Evening Telegraph
October 15, 2007 Monday
One in four cabs failed safety check campaign
More than one in four city taxis stopped in safety checks were ordered off the road.
A three-month inspection campaign by Derby City Council resulted in 27 per cent of hackney carriages and private hire licences being suspended.
Only 18 cars had no faults when enforcement officers stopped and examined 113 taxis between April and June this year.
As a result of the checks, 31 drivers had their licences suspended because their cars were not up to scratch.
Officers checked lights, brakes, tyres, steering and suspension.
They also checked the cleanliness, meters and fuel systems of the cars.
Hackney carriages were worst with 31 per cent of those checked failing inspection.
Of the 61 private-hire cars checked, 15 licences were suspended - 24 per cent.
Derby City Council's cabinet member for enforcement, Richard Smalley, said: "These figures show how very seriously Derby City Council takes the health and safety of taxi passengers and local residents in the city.
"The hardship this can cause drivers who fail the rigorous checks is regrettable but our priority has to be and always will be the health and safety of passengers. We will seek to help and assist drivers where we can to ensure their vehicles meet our stringent test but I make no apology for the authority carrying out these enforcement checks."
The most common reason for hackney carriages failing the tests was suspension, with 11 cabs having faults.
In five cases, brakes were the main issue while lights caused six failures.
Another 34 cabs failed for other reasons, such as bodywork and exhaust systems.
In private-hire vehicles, the most common fault was with tyres, which led to nine licences being suspended.
Suspensions usually last until the faults have been rectified and then licences are returned.
In August last year, 300 taxi drivers went on a one-night strike in protest at the strictness and frequency of kerbside checks.
That was after 65 hackney cabs were stopped between April and June 2006 and 21 drivers had their licences suspended - 32 per cent.
Mark Keenan, manager of private hire firm Western Cars in Osmaston Road, Derby, said he was in favour of the checks but thought the city council ought to be faster in returning licences after faults had been fixed.
"We have no problem with the checks and the public safety side at all...that has to be done. Our concern is that sometimes the checks are done on a Friday and pick up a fault that perhaps the driver didn't know about.
"The driver can then get their car fixed on Saturday morning but the council does not re-test them over the weekend so it is sometimes Monday or Tuesday before the drivers get their licences back.
"That is a lot of trade for the drivers to miss out on and I think that is what upsets drivers the most."
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