Taxi Driver’s Licence Suspended Over Breach of Safety Conditions

Taxi checks in Leicestershire have found several drivers to be in breach of their licences. In a random check operation by police, Department for Transport inspectors and Oadby and Wigston Borough Council officials, of the 17 vehicles which were inspected, 7 were found to be in breach of licence safety conditions. One of these taxis had a mechanical fault which led to the immediate suspension of the vehicle licence and another was issued with a notice to get faults rectified.

According to the BBC, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s senior legal and licensing officer, Gary Waterfield stated “The holding of regular spot checks… is to demonstrate to the taxi and private hire trade that the Council will not tolerate those who do not take their obligations to comply with safety measures seriously.”

It is important that individuals who are providing a service which involves public safety are brought to task if they fall short of the standards required of them and, in suspending this taxi driver’s licence, the Council have moved to show that public safety is of paramount concern.

If you are involved in an accident as a passenger in a private hire vehicle, or any vehicle for that matter, it is very important that you make sure that you obtain the details of all the parties involved in the accident. This is to make sure that whichever party is found to be liable for the accident that you have the full details and are able to trace the party at fault.

As taxi drivers usually work as independent contractors for taxi firms, getting the taxi firm name may not be sufficient, as they may find it difficult to trace the taxi driver’s details.