Watford Borough Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carried out 28 random roadside spot check inspections on local taxis on the week of Tuesday, September 6, to make certain standards are being met to ensure the safety of drivers and the travelling public.
During the operation, taxis and private hire vehicles were stopped by police officers and directed to an inspection point. Vehicles were inspected by police vehicle examiners, while drivers were interviewed by the council’s Licensing officers. Teams from the Casualty Reduction and Commercial Vehicle Unit for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire and Herts Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team were also involved.
The checks included ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles, the use of fuel to check red diesel was not being used, as well as to ensure that necessary signage, documentation and equipment such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers were carried. A total of 28 vehicles were stopped during the operation, with the following faults being identified:
- One suspension due to unsafe vehicle
- Two prohibition notices (mechanical)
- 13 verbal warnings – no door signs, none or too few reflective jackets, no fire extinguisher, no licence and mechanical faults (e.g. lights)
Councillor Ian Stotesbury, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability, said: “To continue to deliver a safe transport service to the residents and businesses of Watford, the town’s licensed taxis and private hire vehicles are working with Police to make sure safety standards are met.
“These compliance operations, carried out in partnership with the police, help us to identify potential safety risks and deal with them. Thank you to the police officers, council staff and members of the trade for working to ensure standards across the town.”
Councillor Glen Saffery, Chair of the Licensing Committee, said: “It’s our job as a council to make sure Watford’s taxis have the very highest standards of quality and safety. This work gives local residents confidence these standards are being adhered to and guarantees a level playing field for responsible drivers.
“I’d like to thank officers from the council’s licensing team and Herts Police for carrying out these spot checks. I’m pleased to say that the vast majority of drivers do uphold these standards and I would also like to thank them for the work they do on behalf of our community. Where issues were identified, drivers have been spoken to and appropriate action taken to ensure the issues are resolved.”
Throughout the year, the team carry out roadside spot checks to make sure that standards are being kept to, as well as to identify and take action against unlicensed drivers and vehicles working illegally in the town.
For further information or to report any concerns about unsafe or illegal taxis or private hire vehicles in Watford, please contact the Licensing Team on 01923 278503 or email licensing@watford.gov.uk.
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