Taxis in York found with dangerous faults that ‘could have caused a serious crash’

A random check of taxis in York discovered some had serious faults which ‘could have caused a serious road traffic collision’, say police.

Officers pulled over taxis at random during ‘Operation Edge’, held in the city centre on Saturday night (25 March).

The operation identified several taxis which were found to have various faults and “prompt action was taken”.

PC Dave Ellison from North Yorkshire Police said: “I am grateful to the partner agencies who assisted us with this operation which enabled us to engage with taxi drivers in the city of York.

“We were successful in identifying several taxis which had faults. These included dangerous tyres and faulty suspensions.

“Some of these vehicles could have caused a serious road traffic collision if they had continued to operate.

“Members of the public who choose to use and pay for a taxi expect the vehicle to be safe.

“This operation sends out a clear message to taxi drivers to ensure that vehicles are maintained so they are fit for purpose and legal to be on the road.”

Stuart Hird, secretary of York Private Hire Association, said that “the taxis that have been checked will NOT all be York licensed vehicles”.

You can read his full response below.

The faults in full

The operation was designed to ensure that taxis in York are mechanically satisfactory and are legal to be on the road.

Altogether, 31 vehicles were inspected. From those 31:

• 11 vehicles were suspended for defects of a significant nature
• 2 vehicles were issued with rectification notices issued for minor defects
• 3 advisory notices were issued for minor breaches in conditions
• 15 vehicles were satisfactory.

Officers from the city centre policing team worked with the special constabulary and roads policing officers on ‘Operation Edge’.

Partners including City of York Council and the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) also took part in the operation.

‘Lost control’ of taxi licensing

Stuart Hird of the York Private Hire Association told YorkMix: “The thing to make really clear here is that the taxis that have been checked will NOT all be York licensed vehicles.

“Usually, when these operations are done, the joint agencies pull taxis from other licensing areas as well that are working in York without holding a York licence.

“The police are not clear which taxis have failed the checks. The taxis could be licensed anywhere (Bradford, Leeds, Wolverhampton, etc) as York council have lost control of taxis working in York due to a national lack of challenge against companies that run out of area taxis wherever they like.

“This lack of challenge gives the drivers of these non-York licensed vehicles somewhere to work where they can hide from the watchful eyes of their own licensing enforcement agents.

“The York Taxi and Private Hire Association welcomes enforcement in the city of York and have campaigned to get council to employ more enforcement officers to ensure that these operations go ahead.”