Taxi Driver Online

Not clear precisely what's going on here - although it's called an MoT, and the MoT failure categories are used, it's maybe not a DVSA MoT as such, because otherwise it would surely mention here that drivers have been driving MoT failed cars, rather than just the specific licensing stuff here

But maybe the certain takeaway here is that the council will be more inclined to remove the plate after testing the cars


Blackburn taxi driver licences to be revoked for failed MOTs

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... iled-mots/

Taxi drivers will have their car licences suspended immediately if major faults are found on vehicles following an MOT test in Blackburn with Darwen.

The ruling will come into force in March and will mean taxi drivers will not be permitted to drive until faults on their vehicles have been fixed.

Presently, cabbies can leave a council-authorised MOT testing station with their car having failed the MOT if they promise to fix any faults that may have been found.

However, Blackburn with Darwen Council officials said some drivers were continuing to drive and not fixing the vehicle straight away, breaking the trust arrangement in place, and meaning dangerous, unfit vehicles are being used to ferry members of the public around the borough.

According to the council, vehicles must pass a standard MOT when testing is carried out at the Motor Vehicle Service Station in Davyfield Road.

A taxi test costs £62, and a retest can cost £46 or £32 depending on if it is a half hour or full hour.

An update to cab drivers from the council said: “Any vehicle found on test to have a dangerous or major fault (as categorised by the DVSA), will have its license suspended and plate removed, and it must not be used for private hire or Hackney work until the suspension has been lifted on a re-test or a new licence has been issued.

“This change is necessary because an increasing number of drivers whose vehicles have these faults are leaving the testing centre and carrying on working instead of taking their vehicles straight to a garage to have the repairs done.”

One taxi driver said the change could mean a driver would be off the road for a number of days if their car fails the test and is unfit to be on public roads, resulting in lost earnings.

He said: “It can take a few days to book a taxi in for a retest.

“If a car fails its MOT and gets fixed the same day or a day or two later, drivers may be off the road for up to a week until a retest is available.”

The council confirmed the change was being brought in to take 'danger' vehicles off the roads.

Strategic director for environment and operations, Martin Eden, said: "From Saturday, March 1, any vehicle that fails its MOT test and is categorised as ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ will have its licence suspended and number plate removed.

"This is to ensure that the vehicle is not used for taxi work or private hire until the ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ defects have been fixed.

"We have seen an increasing number of drivers put passengers at risk as they carry on working with defects, rather than getting their vehicle repaired.

"Drivers should keep their vehicle in good order to ensure the safety of themselves and their passengers, and to avoid failing an MOT."

Not sure precisely the relevance of the categories here - if it's failed a DVSA MoT then it's either categorised as 'dangerous' or 'major', while the implication here seems to be that you can fail an MoT and it can be categorised as something other than 'dangerous' or 'major'.

And the other implication seems to be that you can fail on more minor stuff and keep working, but who knows?

based on this i think it's ignorant journos who don't know the difference between a DVSA vehicle test and a council taxi test

The thing is though I thought this was standard uk wide certainly in our area if a licensed vehicle fails on something safety related the plate is removed and has been for many years.

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

Maybe the problem is that (like generic use of the word 'taxi', for example), councils and councillors also use the word MoT loosely to what is often really a council-specific HC/PHV test rather than an actual MoT or certificate of compliance, or whatever.

Had a quick look back, and remember the trade complaints about no tea and coffee-making facilities at the Blackburn testing station?

And one councillor told drivers to 'take a flask'?


Maybe the test does amount to an MoT, but I'd guess that since it's an official council depot then they'll be testing signage, stickers and meters as well, blah, blah...

There's a lot about testing in Blackburn in previous articles, and the likes of this suggests the word MoT isn't used in its strict sense even by officials:

So maybe it is a full MoT plus the 'taxi'-specific stuff, but who knows, and can't be bothered looking into the official papers.

Then remember the likes of this 'Taxi MoTs' in Blackburn for Wolverhampton-plated cars?

Of course, here it was genuinely a standard DVSA MoT, because that's all that was required by Wolverhampton Council, for PHVs at least

Or, at least a standard DVSA MoT from an MoT garage designated via Wolverhampton Council - now all they need is a standard DVSA MoT from any garage