With over 1,000 taxi and private hire vehicles in Derby, it’s important to make sure the fleet is in safe condition for customers, and are compliant with licence conditions.
That’s why yesterday, Derby City Council’s taxi licensing team, alongside Derbyshire Police once again undertook a joint vehicle inspection exercise.
The Licensing team and police work together to regularly inspect the taxi and private hire vehicles in the city, to monitor and improve the condition of the fleet.
If vehicles are found inadequate, there are a number of actions that can be taken:
- If a vehicle has serious problems its licence is suspended with immediate effect. The licence is only reinstated after the vehicle has been repaired and then inspected at an approved garage.
- If a vehicle has issues but they are not serious enough to immediately suspend the licence it can be sent for further inspection by the licensing team, or by a garage.
- If the licensing officer isn’t sure about the safety of a vehicle, but has reasonable doubt, they are entitled to suspend its licence. To help establish the problem, they can send the vehicle for a garage inspection so a more detailed examination can be carried out.
- On more minor matters such as cleanliness or appearance, the driver can be offered advice
The police, who have different powers to the Council, can take their own action:
- They can issue a PG9 Notice, which prohibits use of the vehicle and requires the owner to produce documentation at a police station to evidence it has been repaired (normally, the “pass” certificate issued by a Council approved garage after an inspection).
- The police may also choose to prosecute drivers.
In yesterday’s exercise, seven vehicles were stopped, of which, five had serious defects resulting in the suspension of their licenses, one was referred for a further inspection, and another was given an advisory notice.
Below are the ages and defects found in the five that had licenses suspended.
- Vehicle 1 – 1999:
- Severe oil leak from front of the engine
- Screen washer defective
- Passenger compartment lights inoperative
- Meter seal damaged/tampered
- Leaf spring clamp broken
- Passenger door windows (electric) excessively slow in operation.
- Vehicle 2 – 2006:
- Fluid leak at/around power steering box
- Taxi roof sign dim in operation
- Clutch defective
- Incorrect licence number displayed
- Under bonnet heater control valve missing
- Internal panels behind rear door windows broken and presenting sharp edges to passengers
- Tip-down seat surround broken and presenting sharp edges to passengers
- Non-standard passenger floor lights fitted
- Vehicle 3 – 2002:
- Multiple electrical issues which prevented the normal level of inspection
- Handbrake defective
- Wiper blade shredded
- Screen washer in-operative
- Body sill corroded to excess at rear
- Evidence of excessive corrosion to boot floor
- Under bonnet heater control valve missing
- Vehicle 4 – 2003:
- ABS warning light permanently illuminated
- Excessive black smoke emissions
- Internal identification sign missing
- Vehicle interior in dirty condition
- Glove box lid broken and held in place with cord
- Sidelight inoperative
- Vehicle 5 – 2005:
- Outer body sill corroded to excess
- Outer body sill corroded to excess
- Brake pedal anti-slip provision worn through
A spokesperson for Derby City Council said:
It’s a shame that so many vehicles continue to have defects during these inspections, however unfortunately results like these are not uncommon. Though a large number of drivers take great care of their vehicles, there are some that do not meet the standards we’d expect, so we’ll continue to conduct these safety checks with our police colleagues.