Cab drivers referred to opticians after crackdown
A taxi leader has called for more spot checks on rogue vehicles for hire after a council-led crackdown found two drivers with dodgy eyesight.
Checks on 19 vehicles were carried out in High Street, Tring and Berkhamsted railway station on Friday, March 12.
The two drivers who failed Herts County Council eyesight tests were referred to an optician. The failed tests were seen as 'minor' by the council.
Officials also issued four prohibition notices and five advisory warnings for drivers to rectify issues with brakes, tyres, radios, indicator lights and tinted front windows.
Tony Clarke, of Hemel Hempstead Taxi Drivers Association, welcomed the crackdown. His organisation represents Hackney carriage drivers across Dacorum.
Mr Clarke said: "It is good that they went to Tring. We know there are a lot of complaints about Tring and Berkhamstead, especially Tring because it is out on a limb, quite a way from the council's offices."
Five of the cabs checked were Dacorum Council-registered Hackney carriages. There were 11 private hire vehicles from the borough and three from elsewhere.
Dacorum Council licensing officers slapped five notices for breach of conditions. Some drivers were warned for infringements including not wearing their badges.
Four members of the public were also fined and points put on their licences for using mobile phones while driving. Two were fined for not wearing seatbelts.
source:
http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/berkhamsted-news/