Councillor warns residents of safety concerns after out-of-area Uber vehicles checks
Lancashire residents have been cautioned against using private hire vehicles (PHV) licensed in other parts of the country, particularly Wolverhampton, following a series of alarming spot checks.
During the summer, South Ribble and Preston saw more than 200 vehicles inspected, with all those taken off the road or found to have faults being licensed in the Midlands city.
Councillor Jane Bell, who chairs South Ribble Council's licensing and public safety committee, highlighted the issue at a recent meeting. She expressed concern over the safety of passengers using the vehicles licensed outside the region, all of which were also operating on the Uber ridehail platform, according to the councillor.
According to the BBC, Councillor Bell said: “They were all Uber taxis…licensed in Wolverhampton."
Bell added: "You certainly won’t be as safe as in our taxis, because our policies are very strict – and stricter than a lot of other boroughs.”
In a coordinated effort in June with licensing teams from Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, and Wolverhampton Council, the police targeted more than 200 vehicles to ensure compliance with regulations as part of National Licensing Week.
The operation kicked off at Preston Train Station before shifting to a designated check site on London Road. Specialist roads policing officers and members of the Serious Disruption Unit (SDU) were deployed, with additional roaming patrols covering South Ribble.
The City of Wolverhampton Council was involved in the operation, which has again cast a spotlight on the growing issue of cross-border hiring. Since the deregulation of the private hire trade in 2015, drivers have been able to obtain their licence and plates from any council in the country, regardless of where they live or where they intend to work.
This has led to a surge in drivers obtaining licences from councils seen to have less stringent requirements or faster processing times. In areas like South Ribble and Preston, where local councils have chosen not to licence Uber vehicles, the influx of out-of-area taxis has raised significant concerns over passenger safety, not least by councillor Bell.
The practice of cross-border hiring remains controversial. Critics argue it undermines local licensing standards, leading to potential safety risks for passengers who may unknowingly hire a vehicle that doesn’t adhere to the strict regulations of their local authority. The situation in Lancashire serves as a stark reminder of the complexities with the current licensing framework, prompting calls for a government review to ensure passenger safety across the board.
