Plymouth Prom Night Limo Safety Crackdown
June 30, 2009
Three stretch limos carrying Plymouth teenagers to their school Proms were found to have serious defects when vehicle inspectors launched a surprise crackdown.
Seven limousines were pulled over as they delivered teenage party-goers to the Proms at the Future Inn in Derriford and the Copthorne Hotel last Friday.
The drivers were questioned about their licences and the roadworthiness of their cars as vehicle inspectors launched 'Operation Cinderella', working with police and the city council.
Three vehicles had serious defects – two to their steering mechanisms and one to a battery which was at risk of causing a fire, VOSA, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, said.
But the crackdown meant that many teenagers still waiting to be picked up were late for the party, and missed the excitement of a ride in a stretch limo.
Inspectors from VOSA counted the young people getting out of the limousines as they arrived for their big night, a council spokeswoman said.
Once the young partygoers were inside the venue, limousine drivers were questioned and several were ordered to go to the VOSA testing station so their vehicles could be checked.
"The driver of one vehicle is to be further questioned about licensing irregularities," the spokeswoman said.
"Earlier this year letters were sent to parents offering advice to make sure school-leavers hire licensed limousines for their prom night.
"Licensed companies have to have necessary checks to make sure the vehicle is roadworthy and safe and drivers are vetted. Only if the vehicle is licensed by VOSA or the council has it been properly examined to ensure that it is safe to carry members of the public."
A VOSA spokeswoman said the agency stopped and inspected seven vehicles.
"Three were escorted to VOSA's heavy goods vehicle test station. Out of the seven vehicles stopped three were issued with prohibitions and a fourth received an advisory notice.
"Two of the three vehicles with the prohibitions had defective steering. One of them was issued with an immediate, the other with a delayed prohibition. The third vehicle had defective batteries that had the potential to catch fire. This vehicle was issued with an immediate prohibition.
"A vehicle issued with an immediate prohibition cannot go back into service until the defects are repaired and the vehicle is issued with a new MOT test.
"The vehicles were not operated by the same company. VOSA apologises for any inconvenience caused."
Cllr Peter Brookshaw, the city's Cabinet member for healthy communities, said: "We wanted to get the message across that young people and anyone who uses limousines have the right to feel safe as much as any other member of the travelling public."
Plymouth City Council's senior licensing officer, Mark Small, said: "Limousine rides are a popular way for young people to make an entrance, but not many use limos to get back home so we were confident that Operation Cinderella would work.
"Officers from all the agencies were very sensitive to the fact that companies may have had other bookings and we know of one vehicle driver that said he had another booking and was allowed to fulfil it after brief details were obtained."
To check the validity of a Department for Transport licence, contact the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency on
www.vosa.gov.uk or telephone 0300 1239000.
Source; thisisplymouth.co.uk
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