20/12/2011 - Permalink

Taxi safety in the spotlight over the festive season

Related topics: Community

Taxi safety is in the spotlight as Shropshire Council officers step up patrols to ensure revellers can get home safely during the Christmas party season. 

Council public protection and enforcement teams have been working across the county to check that: 

  • Vehicles meet licensing conditions.  This includes safety checks on the condition of vehicles, emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, and meter checks.
  • Drivers are working in the Shropshire area to the extent stated to the licensing committee, following an increase in applications for hackney carriage licences from drivers based outside of the county.
  • Private hire drivers are not plying for hire.  It is illegal for a private hire vehicles to carry passengers if the journey has not been pre-booked through a licensed operator. In most cases the vehicle will not be insured during a journey that has not been correctly booked.

Hackney carriage taxis do not have to be pre-booked and can be hailed on the street.  They must be fitted with a meter which the driver must start at the beginning of the journey.  The maximum price for the journey will show on the meter at the end of the journey and the driver cannot charge any more. 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for licensing, said:

“We are committed to making sure that vehicles available for public hire in Shropshire are safe.  We will support people who want to trade and comply with the legislation, and we will revoke licences if there is a risk to the public.” 

Councillor Rosanna Taylor-Smith, chair of the licensing committee, added:

“The safety of passengers is of paramount importance to us.  By carrying out these checks, people can have confidence in the standards of the taxi and private hire industry in the county.” 

To report any concerns on the safety of taxis and private hire vehicles contact Shropshire Council’s licensing team on 0345 678 9026. 

For further advice and details of the differences between hackney carriage taxis and private hire vehicles click here.