A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than using Uber.
Cllr Jane Bell, chair of South Ribble Borough Council’s licensing and public safety committee, recently made the comments at a meeting of the full council, following an operation involving City of Wolverhampton Council with Lancashire Police earlier this summer.
More than 200 private hire and hackney vehicles across South Ribble and Preston were stopped during a single night of spot checks.
The force says three of those inspected were immediately suspended from operating because of faults found with their vehicles, while it also gave “numerous warnings” to drivers for bearing incorrect plates and stickers or not having visible identification.
The council says none of the vehicles or drivers who were reprimanded or taken off the road were licensed locally. Instead, they were Uber vehicles licensed in Wolverhampton.
Cllr Bell urged residents to be cautious when using Uber, stating that local taxi services offer stricter safety standards.
Uber has responded to the claims, stating: “Uber operates according to the high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators.
“We engage closely with councils across the country and are happy to discuss any issues with them.”
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