Source: BBC News
Nearly one in four taxis taking people to and from Bristol International Airport are not fit to be on the road, spot checks have found.
A multi-agency exercise which included councils and the police took place at the airport in January.
Some 22% of 64 vehicles inspected – including those used by car park operators to transport passengers – were not roadworthy, it was found.
A council spokeswoman described the figures as “worrying”.
Defects
The exercise was carried out by North Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Mendip District Council, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Officers also checked whether people were fraudulently claiming benefits while working as taxis drivers.
VOSA issued 14 prohibition notices for vehicles with defects including worn tyres, defective seat belts and damaged body work.
They were stopped from carrying passengers until the defects had been rectified.
The checks found two unlicensed vehicles being used as taxis and two unlicensed taxi drivers – legal action is being considered.
A North Somerset Council spokeswoman said vehicles being operated by off-site car parks nearby had “a higher rate of defects”.
“Of the nine vehicles inspected, six received prohibition notices representing a failure rate of 66%,” she added.
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Cllr Felicity Baker, of North Somerset Council, said: ” These worrying figures, along with the presence of unlicensed vehicles and drivers, raises serious concerns in terms of the safety of people using taxis and courtesy vehicles at the airport.
“In view of the results, further vehicle checks will be carried out at the airport to ensure that standards are raised. This is essential to ensure public safety.”
Ian Hiles, from Bristol International Airport, said the airport was committed to ensuring passenger safety.
He said: “Taxi journeys play a key role in transporting passengers to and from the airport so it is vital that the highest standards are maintained.
“Our fleet of on-site car park buses is rigorously serviced and fully licensed. The same can be said for CheckerCars, the dedicated on-site private-hire taxi operator.
“However, we have no control over the safety and licensing of independent taxis and off-site minibuses which are also able to drop off and pick up at the airport. Well-coordinated spot checks such as this can help to safeguard all passengers and so have our full support.”
