LETTER: Time to crack down hard on dangerous taxis

During a recent inspection of their taxis, one of our neighbouring authorities found a large number of them unfit for purpose and they had no alternative but to take them off the road.

Had the faults been of a hi-tech nature, it might just have been partly acceptable, but they were in the tyres and lights, all of which could have been easily spotted had the taxi operators taken the trouble to check.

Reports of taxis failing safety checks appear with regular monotony in this and other papers, yet the situation is allowed to continue. Is it not time the council’s taxi watchdog took off the kid gloves and made it clear that if taxi operators continually fail to keep their vehicles roadworthy, they will lose their licence?

I would suggest two strikes in any 12 months and you are out would more than focus the taxi operators’ minds.

D. METCALFE

Nelson