Over 130 taxis were stopped checked during a joint police and local authority operation in
Cardiff and
Swansea city centres.
Officers from the South Wales Police Commercial Vehicle Unit, in conjunction with local authority Taxi Licensing Officers, have been conducting safety checks on taxis during the last fortnight to ensure vehicles are fit to escort passengers over the busy festive season.
Chief Superintendent Cliff Filer, the Force Head of Specialist Operations said: “It is a cause for concern that 16 out of the 28 taxis stop-checked in
Swansea city centre were issued with immediate prohibitions for having defective vehicles.
“These prohibitions ranged from defective lights, to defective tyres where cord and ply were exposed, and tread well below the legal limit.
“Last year’s winter weather caused hazardous driving conditions, and with the heavy rainfall this year, it is imperative that we, together with our partners within Local Authority licensing team, do what we can to ensure the roadworthiness of our communities’ cabs.”
The checks in the Welsh cities included
lights, tyres, first aid kits and fire extinguishers, and the drivers authenticated by checking their licence badges.
In
Cardiff,
23 drivers were issued with deferred suspensions, requiring them to make prompt repairs to defects on their vehicles.
22 verbal warnings were also issued, including warnings for drivers who failed to appropriately display their identification.
Chief Superintendent Filer added: “We regularly run taxi safety operations and it is unacceptable that some drivers are still failing to adequately maintain their vehicles.
“These are professional drivers, and ensuring the safety and roadworthiness of their vehicles must be paramount. Defective vehicles put themselves, their passengers and other road users in danger.
“We had a really warm response from the public during the operation, and work will continue throughout the force area with our partners including the taxi drivers associations in the New Year.”
ENDS