Council sting reveals illegally worn tyre and further faults in taxis used for school transport
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
A taxi driver contracted to transport children to school has received penalty points on their licence after a joint enforcement operation led by Dudley Council.
The operation took place on Thursday 3 April at Merry Hill. Officers from Dudley Council were joined by West Midlands Police, DVLA and the DVSA to conduct checks on taxis serving three special schools in the area.
The council employs providers to transport children with additional needs under strict agreements. As part of the sting, taxis were pulled in for spot checks to ensure compliance with safety and licensing rules.
Out of the 47 vehicles inspected, most met the required standards. However, several were found to have issues.
One driver was issued with three penalty points after their vehicle was discovered with an illegal tyre. The tyre had no tread on the inside, and the inner cord was visible.
Two other vehicles had faulty light bulbs. These were replaced on site during the inspection. Another vehicle was noted to be missing the appropriate licensing sticker.
The operation formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe and legal operation of taxis contracted for school transport in the borough.
Councillor David Stanley, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Once again, we have shown that our school transport contractors must adhere to the stringent terms of our agreement or risk strong action from our enforcement officers.
“The majority of drivers and vehicles checked were found to have the standards required, and I would like to thank them for their patience. I would also like to thank the owners for Merry Hill for allowing us to utilise one of their car parks for this important operation.”
