Cabs checked for your safety

More than 30 taxis were checked on Tuesday as part of the council's regular safety checks on licensed taxis operating in the borough.

Licensing officers joined police and road safety officers at Manor Way, Borehamwood, and carried out checks on 34 vehicles.

Some taxi drivers had booked an appointment and others were pulled in off the road by police motorcyclists.

Police and council licensing officers were checking to make sure the taxis were roadworthy and safe for passengers. 

The council suspended one driver's taxi licence until bodywork on his vehicle is repaired.  The council also issued six drivers with notices to have bodywork damage repaired to their vehicles within 14 days.

The police issued four VDRS (Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme) for defective tyres and lights - drivers have 14 days to rectify the defects and register with the police otherwise the police will take further action.   
 
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (which provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services for improving the roadworthiness of vehicles) issued:
- Two immediate prohibitions; one for a brake light defect and one for a defective tyre - both were rectified on site so the prohibitions were removed
- One delayed prohibition for faulty brakes
- Four advisory notices for various defects of a minor nature.

The Department for Work and Pensions also took part in the operation to check drivers were not claiming benefits they were not entitled to.