Taxis targeted in Shrewsbury road safety operation
More than 40 vehicles, most of them taxis, have been checked during a multi-agency road safety operation in Shrewsbury.
The checks, held at the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) centre in Harlescott, were carried out to make sure taxis and other vehicles are roadworthy and complying with licence regulations during the busy pre-Christmas period.
Police Constable Dan Yates, who organised the operation, said a total of 43 taxis and five private vehicles were stopped and inspected between 7pm and 11pm.
He said: “Generally, the taxis were found to be in a good state of repair with only minor breaches and all the drivers were co-operative and on board with the checks”.
The operation, part of the West Mercia Police Christmas Presence initiative, involved VOSA staff, licencing officials from Shropshire Council, and police officers from the town centre team, road policing and the Special Constabulary.
Five vehicles were made subject to prohibitions, three immediately for lighting offences and two delayed prohibitions for a fractured wheel and a steering defect. These prevent vehicles from being moved from the test centre or to have the defect rectified and then made subject to a full MOT test.
The police issued eight vehicle defect rectification notices and the council two suspensions for licence breaches.
Seventeen drivers were breath tested by police officers and one private car driver gave a positive reading.
PC Yates added: “The operation was a success and the vast majority of vehicles were in good working order. The aim is to improve safety for all road users and obviously at this time of year, taxis are going to be in great demand.
“Further multi-agency operations are already planned for the New Year.”
