7:00am Monday 30th March 2009
By Will Kilner
Taxis found to have “minor defects” during testing would be let back out onto the roads to carry passengers for a ten-day period of grace under controversial new proposals.
Martin Hamer, Bradford Coun-cil’s principal officer for fleet management, said the Council was considering giving drivers a “little more flexibility” without compromising on safety.
But controversy over the plan intensified when it emerged that Paul Mills, the Council’s hackney carriage and private hire manager, and Andrew Mellor, the unit’s senior licensing inspector, had been suspended.
The suspension of the two employees, who both have ten years’ experience in the hackney carriage unit, are understood to be connected to their opposition to the proposal.
At present, taxis found to have defects during their annual test must be repaired immediately before being allowed to carry passengers again.
But a new document proposes 19 “minor faults” that would not lead to the removal of the taxi’s plates, including defective indicators, fog lamps, wiper blades and exhaust system.
Drivers would be given a ten-day period to rectify the faults.
Staurt Hastings, of taxi firm Metro Keighley, said: “This new system would be horrendous. It’s making it easier for bad drivers with bad cars.
“A car has to be fit for purpose, especially when you consider that we carry vulnerable people and children. If it has defects and fails this test, it should not be allowed on the road.
“When a car goes in for a test, whatever is wrong with it should be put right straightaway.”
But Mr Hamer said: “I can assure the public that standards are not being compromised and we will never issue a taxi licence on an unsafe vehicle or compromise the safety of passengers.
“Following consultation with the trade and elected members, we are simply considering bringing the Council’s procedures on vehicle testing into line with the current MOT test which gives a little more flexibility.
“We are still in negotiations and are consulting the Depart-ment of Transport, the Vehicle Operators Servicing Agency, the police and our vehicle examiners to ensure our procedures are consistent and robust.”
On the matter of the two suspensions, Mr Hamer said: “Two members of staff have been suspended and an investigation will take place.”
Councillor Michael Walls, chairman of Bradford Council’s hackney carriages and private hire panel, said; “I am taking part in a discussion on these proposed changes for taxis on April 20. There is no doubt that things need to be looked at, updated and changed in different ways.
“If it’s a very minor defect that doesn’t affect the safety or running of the car, we could look at a system where they have a few days to put it right.
“I would be against any proposal that in any way affects or makes more dangerous the driving or use of vehicles.”
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