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6 out of 10 have faults
Reporter: by marina berry
Date online: 06 March 2013
OLDHAM taxi firm operators will be targeted by licensing chiefs in a move to improve vehicle safety after spot checks found just four out of 10 met the required standards.
The move is part of a blitz on private hire and hackney cabs operating in Oldham, which also advocates a tightening up of procedures following Rossendale-licensed vehicles working in the borough.
Next Tuesday’s Licensing Committee will be urged to bring in measures which increase the responsibility for private hire operators to ensure vehicles carrying passengers on their behalf are safe.
Currently they are under no obligation to make sure the vehicles are mechanically fit for purpose, and Oldham’s licensing officers want to see a change to the star rating scheme to give operators some responsibility.
Operators are currently awarded no stars to four stars, and officers want to see three and four stars awarded only to operators who take steps to ensure that at least three out of four of their vehicle fleet passes the annual vehicle test first time.
But Amir Khan, owner of Failsworth taxi firm Skyline, which has three stars, said it would be virtually impossible to implement.
He said: “I can’t see how putting the onus on operators for the maintenance of vehicles would work.
“Each driver is self-employed and is responsible for their own vehicle.
“The council already tests older vehicles three times a year and newer ones twice a year. If vehicles are not adhering to the specific requirements then there should be more spot checks.
“That would act as a deterrent for drivers who would think twice before putting a vehicle which was not properly maintained onto the road.”
The catalyst for the crackdown was the result of two random vehicle checks carried out by the Greater Manchester Police road policing unit and Oldham Council’s MOT vehicle examiners.
The shocking results revealed a pass rate of 40 per cent for vehicles inspected on October 4, 2012, and a 43 per cent pass rate 11 days later.
A total of 25 vehicles were tested in the first check, 20 were private hire, of which 13 failed and eight licences were suspended.
Two of the five hackney carriages tested failed.
On October 15, 21 vehicles were tested, six of the 14 private hire vehicles failed and three licences were suspended.
Six out of seven hackney carriages failed and three licences were suspended.
Scheduled tests had a better pass rate, but there were still a surprising number of failures.
In seven out of 15 monthly tests dating from November 2011 to January 2013, the pass rate was below 60 per cent. The highest pass rate was in November, 2011, at 85 per cent, and only twice besides did it reach more than 70 per cent.
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Comments
This trend will continue due to loss of frontline and enforcement / emergency staff – The Council needs to enhance its frontline staff and STOP sacking them NOW
Mr Khan highlights perfectly the total lack of regard for public safety that pervades the industry in Oldham.
His company hires radios to drivers for a very nice profit. In order for those drivers to be able to hire those radios & to carry the passengers Mr Khan books for them, Mr Khan should ensure the cars those drivers use meet the standards required by the local authority. The cars have the Skyline name & number on them, the customers are Skyline customers.
Revoke some operator licences!!
It's only fair to mention that taxis do have to pass a much more strict test than the MOT and that items which appear trivial can result in a fail.
I just wish the council would force the taxi companies to invest in the equipment which gives 3 rings on a customers phone instead of them sounding their horn in the early hours. Complain about this and the council will tell you to get the badge number, only when you do this do they tell you that there's nothing they can do!
Some things never change. Same story, a different year just like hygiene in takeaways and restaurants. Glad the Chronicle has highlighted it once again though. Thumbs up!
Oldham has always pursued a tight line on car quality and it is not unusual for the Licensing Committee's "Naughty taxi Drivers' Sub Committee" to give a second punishment beyond that given by the courts including suspension of licenses. As members of the public we should always look at the star rating and refuse to book private hires if they lack the four star rating. The standards sought are not unreasonable.
What do licensing chiefs actually do between these so called crackdowns? If the drivers are self employed why do they display the logo of the taxi firm. I find it staggering that this issue has been raised again, but never gets resolved. If these licensing chiefs are not up to the job, scrap them.
we know they are taxi drivers but not all taxi drivers are mechanics, as some faults are not as noticeable as others, and a lot more noticeable to the trained eye!, you could probably pull 100 public cars and find fault with virtually all if you looked hard enough!. Also they do not state what the faults are, and faults to this lot are silly things like a bulb out!, saying that there are rogues who do try to flout the law!.
flake if you use a certain taxi firm from roytonthey have been doing call backs to let you know their outside for over 3 months now so much better.
@JMTS No it hasn't. Standards have fallen as the numbers of vehicles licensed has rocketed in order to bring mone in. Council staff are hamstrung from taking reasonable action, the attitude displayed by Mr Khan is typical of the resistance faced.
and its also about time the Council got to grips with all the taxi drivers who use their mobile phones while driving. Cant even begin to count how many taxi drivers I have recently encountered who openly take calls and chat on their mobiles. and while I am on my soapbox - can I just say that I find it offensive to have to listen to religious music while travelling
How can it not be the up to the operator to ensure the cars running under their name are roadworthy? The operator should make sure the driver proves the worthiness of car before they are allowed to trade as part of their business.
Yes Margaret much better but these taxis aren't ordered by me & there's no controlling the firms other people use. Other councils make the use of call backs compulsory, but for some reason not Oldham.
@ProDriver What do you mean by "brought more in"? How are "Council staff hamstrung from taking reasonable action"? Khan's attitude does represent a problem. OMBC is seeking to tighten the screw on such irresponsibility. The star rating system gives the public a tool to help. If they ain't four star, don't book 'em. Simples
@JMTSMore as in £££ The number of private hire vehicles in oldham is a huge source of revenue 7 a profit centre for Oldham Council. Simple. The star rating system is a pointless exercise & nothing to do with car condition. Yes the council is hamstrung because your 'naughty taxi' group is ineffective 7 the 'R' word would crop up if there was a serious crackdown.
@jackspratt Incredibly rude isn't it on both counts, make your displeasure known next time.
@ProDriver. If someone applies for a Private Hire or Hackney Licence and they meet the legal criteria they can't be refused and the council shouldn't charge more on licensing than it cost to administer the scheme. The star system is a means of putting pressure on the operators. If they tolerate drivers with dodgy cars they don't get the stars. What the heck has racism got to do with this? A naughty taxi driver is a naughty taxi driver and a danger to the public. They get dealt with.
Have Your Say
All the taxis I've been in recently have been spot on, no bangs or rattles like the taxi's of old. Also they can work out cheaper than the bus.
By Fitton Hill @ 06/03/2013 12:17:55