Taxi licence shake-up planned

3:40pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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BORIS Johnson is planning to abolish half-yearly black cab inspections.

The tests were introduced last October and led to the annual licence fee going up by £36 from £142 to £178 to cover the additional cost.

But the mayor has asked Transport for London (TfL) to look at ways to make sure taxis still operate safely while only being inspected once a year.

The proposals in the consultation include:

• Retaining the annual taxi inspection as a condition of licence.

• Removing the mid-year taxi inspection as a condition of licence.

• Increasing the number of on-street taxi inspections by TfL's vehicle compliance team.

• Reducing the annual licence fee to reflect the lower overall taxi licensing cost.

• Introducing a fee for any taxi requiring a re-test after failing the annual vehicle inspection or an on-street inspection.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: "The black cab is an icon of London, and an essential part of our transport system.

"It is essential that we support and work with London's cabbies, who are the best in the world, rather than tying them up with red tape.

"Mid-year taxi inspections have proved an unnecessary burden for drivers and owners, and have penalised the majority who maintain their vehicles throughout the year.

"This consultation proposes a fairer system, where the industry benefits from a simpler and cheaper inspection regime.

Only those few taxi drivers whose vehicles do not meet required standards will have to pay for follow-up inspections."