Taxi safety in the spotlight over the festive 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 working in the Shropshire area will be checked 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 also being checked to make sure they are not plying for hire, as it is illegal for a private hire vehicles to carry passengers if the journey has not been pre-booked through a licensed operator.

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.”