9 Oct 2009

Hamilton taxi fleet taken off road

10:18 pm on 9 October 2009

A Hamilton taxi company has been taken off the road because its fleet of cars failed to meet safety standards.

Freedom Cabs Limited was convicted in August this year of failing to maintain a register of owners and drivers.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has now revoked the company's operating licence.

It says that, in a random check in May, not one of the cars inspected met fitness standards. Vehicles had safety problems including bald tyres, steering, suspension and brake faults.

The agency says it had worked with Freedom Cabs for six months to help improve its standards without success and there was no option but to take the fleet off the road.

The New Zealand Taxi Federation believes Freedom Cabs should have been off the road months ago.

The federation says it understands another six companies are being investigated, and it appears tougher new rules controlling the industry are starting to work.