A private hire taxi was stopped on the M6 southbound at Junction 11 near Wolverhampton after roads policing officers discovered a large chunk of the vehicle’s alloy wheel was missing – while the taxi was carrying passengers in the rear.
Staffordshire Road Crime Team shared the shocking discovery on social media, showing the extent of the wheel damage that led to the taxi being deemed unroadworthy. The severity of the fault posed a serious risk to public safety.
A PG9 prohibition notice was issued immediately, which legally prevents the vehicle from being driven any further until it is made road-safe. Officers said they were lucky to have stopped the taxi before a potentially catastrophic incident occurred.
The driver has been formally reported for the offence and the vehicle was immobilised at the roadside.
Police highlighted the importance of regular vehicle checks, especially for those in the professional taxi and private hire trade, who have a legal and moral duty to keep passengers safe.
“Scarily the taxi had passengers in the rear,” the team said on X (formerly Twitter), reinforcing the life-threatening danger the defect posed.
The case adds to growing concerns around vehicle safety standards among some private hire operators, as enforcement teams across the UK continue to uncover serious defects during routine checks and targeted operations.
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