Taxi Driver Online

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/taxi-driver-gave-lifts-passengers-8384642

A taxi driver has had his licence to carry out lifts for passengers revoked after driving more than 100 miles after failing an MOT.

He drove his vehicle 110 miles with four major defects and one "do not drive until repaired" dangerous defect — and lied to Bath and North East Somerset Council ’s licensing officers about the journey.

As is typical for taxi driver hearings, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s licensing subcommittee heard the taxi driver’s case in a private session, but minutes of the meeting in March have since been published.

The taxi driver — who has not been named — told the committee he took full responsibility, apologised, and was prepared to accept any punishment. He added that he had no intention to harm anyone, and had family and personal issues at the time of the issues.

He said that after his car had failed the MOT he had taken it back to get it fixed.

Councillors revoked his taxi licence on notice, stating: “Whilst members acknowledged that the licensee may have had personal and family issues during the relevant period, this is no excuse for neglecting the upkeep and essential repairs of his vehicle in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public.”

The committee also noted that all four of his tyres only had a tread of 2mm — just above the legal minimum of 1.6mm — in May 2022.

But he then drove a further 2,701 miles on those tyres, only replacing them after his car failed its MOT in September 2022.

The taxi driver stated that he had not fully checked the paperwork and had only been using the vehicle for his personal use during this time, but was told by councillors that the car still posed a danger to the public.

By the time it was brought in for its MOT in September, the ply or cords were exposed on one tyre, and another had a cut deep enough to reach them.

The taxi driver had received no complaints from the public during his time as a taxi driver. He had held his Bath and North East Somerset Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence for just under two years.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I read the first sentence and was going to be mean to the council, but then read the second and got their point.

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IDFIMH

Yeah right.

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IDFIMH

Yes, that's what I thought when reading the first sentence as well. But 2,701 miles certainly isn't much for a taxi over four months. And I wouldn't expect a tyre to go from 2mm tread to the cord/ply exposed over that kind of mileage, but I suppose it depends how it's driven, whether it's front or rear, and whether the wear is even across the tyre etc.

Unless, of course, the mileage is, er, misleading

But it's all a tad confusing, and a bit more detail would be illuminating. For example, how was he caught using the car without an MoT, and how did the council know he was lying about not using it to carry passengers? (Which I assume is the lie referred to, but that's not clear either.)

Had a look at the minutes, but there's nothing there that adds much in the way of illumination, other than that the 2mm tread depth seems to have been recorded at a service.

Presumably the LO's report to the sub-committee would provide a lot of the detail, but we're not allowed to read that. Which is another thing - even assuming anonymity is a good thing, what would be the problem with making the LO's report public, but with names and identifying details redacted? I mean, it presumably wouldn't include anything likely to identify the driver that's not in the stuff in the minutes and press article

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieList ... x?MId=6287

I wonder if he took work from a licensed operator who logged the job(s).

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IDFIMH