Revellers taking risks by using unregistered cabbies
PEOPLE in Plymouth have been warned not to take a cheap lift with an unregistered taxi driver – because they could be putting their lives at risk.
The city council said that unvetted drivers are cashing in on the shortage of genuine cabbies by picking up passengers at busy times.
The authority said it is also receiving more complaints regarding unlicensed drivers advertising on social media.
But the council said it was dangerous to travel in unsafe or uninsured cars with drivers who are not properly vetted.
Cllr John Riley, Cabinet Member responsible for Community Safety and Licensing, said: “Using an unlicensed vehicle could put your safety in jeopardy and, in the worst case scenario, could be the last journey you make.
“No one wants their lives devastated by a car accident they could be uninsured for just because of the desire to get home quickly after a night out.”
The council and the genuine taxi trade has admitted that licensed drivers can be hard to find after the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit. One boss admitted that some drivers were cherry-picking the best times and routes, and not always picking up revellers from the city centre in the early hours.
The council said that fake drivers were also undercutting licensed taxi and private hire vehicle fares and harming the livelihoods of approved drivers.
Cllr Riley added: “We want everyone to enjoy their nights out in Plymouth which is why we are urging people to take sensible steps to avoid unscrupulous bogus taxi drivers who put earning illegal extra money before people’s safety.”
“We are urging people to only use a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle and if not, to have a designated driver within their group on a night out.”
The council’s licensing team has already contacted several drivers who have been advertising on social media, but there are still others operating illegally in the city.
Drivers who carry passengers for a fee without a taxi or private hire licence are committing a number of offences.