Published: Tuesday, 2nd Mar 2021

Bolton Council’s Licensing team will be working with Greater Manchester Police, in March, to carry out spot checks of taxi and private hire vehicles in the borough.

The operation is aimed at making sure safety standards are met to ensure the safety of drivers and the travelling public.

The government has acknowledged that the taxi and private hire vehicle sector is playing a really important part in transporting critical workers and that ‘compliance and enforcement activity should continue where this is to maintain public safety’.  

Checks will be made on vehicles to ensure they are complying with the council’s vehicle test criteria and conditions of licence. Vehicles which fail for serious safety issues such as unsecure data, tyres and inoperable lights will be suspended. Vehicles will then be off the road and switched off at the operator until the faults are corrected. Advisory notices will be issued for more minor faults which must be rectified within 10 days.

Drivers can do their part by making sure they carry out regular safety checks of their vehicles including:

•    All lights are working and replacing faulty bulbs.
•    Fire extinguishers haven’t expired and are securely fastened.
•    Livery and plates displayed as required.
•    Radios and are data heads secure.
•    Seat belts are working.
•    Tyres are within the legal tread limit, inflated and check for cuts, bulges or cords exposed.
•    The vehicle is clean inside and outside.

Drivers must also ensure they wear their private hire or hackney carriage driver badge at all times whilst working. It is an offence not to wear this in a way that it is plainly and distinctly visible.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough, Bolton Council Executive Member for Environmental Regulatory Services, said: “We want to work with the trade to improve standards in the borough and drivers can all play their part.

“These spot checks are all about keeping our travelling public, many of whom are critical workers during this time, and drivers themselves safe.

“No one wants to see drivers off the road, for minor issues that can easily be fixed, so we’re asking trade representatives and operators to get the message out to ensure vehicle owners carry out these checks.”