A new report presented to Kirklees Council’s Licensing and Safety Committee has revealed a worrying number of private hire and hackney carriage vehicles failed compliance tests over the past year, sparking concerns about vehicle safety and driver responsibility.
Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, a total of 2,445 compliance tests were conducted at the council’s George Street and Vine Street facilities. Of those, 653 vehicles — or 26.71% — failed. The highest failure rate occurred in April 2024, where 42% of 185 tested vehicles did not pass inspection.
The compliance checks, which all licensed vehicles must undergo annually, are described by the council’s Public Protection Group Leader for Licensing, Fiona Goldsmith, as similar to an MOT but more comprehensive. They include checks on overall vehicle condition, safety-critical systems, and general roadworthiness. If necessary, vehicles may be tested up to three times a year.
Minor defects identified during testing give drivers the opportunity to fix issues before returning for a free retest. However, major faults can lead to immediate suspension of the vehicle licence and a full retest at the licence holder’s expense.
The most common reasons for failure included:
- Lighting issues – 308 vehicles
- Steering and suspension faults – 171 vehicles
- Wheel and tyre problems – 152 vehicles
- Brake defects – 119 vehicles
Councillor Charles Greaves (Independent, Holme Valley North) expressed concern that such basic faults were not being picked up by drivers themselves before official testing.
“Stuff like suspension, steering, brakes, tyres – really the driver should be checking those every time they’re going out,” he said. “There’s a lot of time where there might be dangerous vehicles on the road waiting for the council to check them.”
Cllr Greaves also asked what expectations the council places on drivers and operators for carrying out their own regular vehicle inspections.
Ms Goldsmith responded that all drivers are indeed expected to conduct pre-use checks and keep a record. She also clarified that changes made by the council mean vehicles are no longer required to increase their testing frequency based on age — all now undergo annual testing as standard.
Councillor Eric Firth acknowledged that while some drivers are falling short on maintenance, many are still taking their responsibilities seriously. “That’s not all drivers, is it?” he asked.
Ms Goldsmith agreed, noting it’s a minority of vehicles and drivers that are not meeting standards. However, she reassured the committee that licensing officers remain proactive and vigilant.
“If we happen upon a vehicle that doesn’t look quite right, we can require them to go for an additional test — we can make them go for up to three a year,” she said.
The report and discussion underline the importance of both council oversight and daily diligence from drivers to maintain safety standards across Kirklees’ taxi and private hire fleet.
Source: Yorkshire Live
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