TfL conduct nearly 100,000 taxi and PHV checks in last 17 month period removing thousands from the road

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed substantial enforcement activity involving the checks of nearly 100,000 London taxi and private hire vehicles (PHVs) over a 17 month period.

Data has been revealed as part of a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request which covers inspections from January 2023 to the end of May 2024.

TfL's records show that 18,872 black cab checks were made within the specified period. In contrast, private hire vehicles faced similar scrutiny based of the sheer number of vehicles licensed with the authority, with 80,863 inspections conducted. The checks were conducted to ensure safety and compliance.

Enforcement measures also resulted in a considerable number of vehicles being pulled off the road for failing to meet the required standard. A total of 2,426 taxis and 9,796 PHVs were removed due to various non-compliance issues. Common issues included faulty lights, lack of valid Tax or MOT, defective body panels, worn tyres, and the presence of unauthorised infra-red reflective plates. Additionally, problems with ancillary equipment such as wheelchair accessibility were identified.

The FOI request further disclosed that 20 drivers were found to be operating illegally or without proper licensing. This group comprised 4 taxi drivers and 16 PHV drivers.

These findings highlight TfL's commitment to enforcing regulations within the capital and ensuring the safety of both drivers and passengers in London's busy transport system.