Taxi Driver Online

Tuk-tuks a safety concern

Novelty tuk-tuks licensed for use as private hire vehicles in Blackpool could be putting passengers at risk. So says Taxiwise, a leading safety group behind a national campaign for the safe use of taxis.

Blackpool Council has just granted licences to two separate operators to use the motorised rickshaws, popular in the Far East, on the streets of the town.

Taxiwise believes the three-wheeled vehicles offer little protection to passengers in the event of an accident and do not have the modern safety features seen on most normal vehicles.

"You have to ask, where does the novelty value end and safety concerns start?" said Celeste Clarke, national spokesperson for Taxiwise.

"Vehicles licensed for use as taxis need to undergo strict, regular safety checks and meet high safety standards as vehicles and the background of any driver applying for a licence to operate is fully investigated. This gives passengers peace of mind.

"We want to see safety standards like this maintained across the whole of the UK as well as rules on the type of vehicle that can be used as a taxi so people can immediately identify a genuine cab from one that is not."

The tuk-tuks in Blackpool are only licensed for use if booked in advance and cannot be flagged down on the street like a properly licensed taxi.

Brighton already has licensed tuk-tuks operating on the streets. Last year a woman in her 20s was injured when a tuk-tuk collided with a parked car in the town.

_________________
IDFIMH

Bloke says they are safe.

http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/displ ... to_run.php

_________________
IDFIMH

Mr Ross added that taxi firms had no need to be concerned: "Taxi's have no need to worry, we will only be carrying two passengers at a time and I have already stated that I will pass on fares that we are unable to take to taxi companies in the town that understand the value of a tuk tuk."

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I have a tendency to think that it is all Sussex fault...... and even Dusty

He should have exterminated them before they were allowed to breed.

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

From what I can work out what's happening with the tuk tuks isn't that far from what happening at Manchester Airport, albeit different motors.

So it's more JD's fault.

_________________
IDFIMH