Leader: Vital safety checks on taxis

Dec 24 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AT A time of year when many people are out celebrating, taxis are likely to being doing good business.

And that is one of the reasons why it seems particularly timely for a team of police, Kirklees licensing officers and officials from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) plus HM Revenue and Customs to be out checking the things many of us take for granted.

Anyone who gets in a taxi expects to be safe. They should feel confident that the driver is competent, properly qualified and licensed and that the vehicle being used is similarly up to scratch.

And while many taxis and their drivers will fulfil all of those requirements, experience has proved that some would not stand up to scrutiny.

That is where this kind of stop and check operation becomes vital.

If it weeds out any problems and ensures that our taxis are safe then we can all look forward to the festive season without worries about accidents just waiting to happen.

The fact that the first taxi checked by the team was ordered off the road because of a bald tyre proves beyond doubt the validity of the checks.