Request ID: FOI-0852-2425 Date published: 03 July 2024
You asked
Dear FOI
Please can you give the data to how many Black cabs have been stopped and checked and how many PHV has been stopped and checked from Jan 2023 to Date and also how many vehicles have been pulled off the road at the same time and why
Also how many drivers have been caught who should not be behind the wheel
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0852-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12th June 2024 asking for information about Taxi and PHV checks.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Please can you give the data to how many Black cabs have been stopped and checked and how many PHV has been stopped and checked from Jan 2023 to Date?
Answer: Between January 2023 and the end of May 2024, 18,872 black cabs have been stopped and checked. In the same period, 80,863 private hire vehicles have been stopped and checked.
Question 2: How many vehicles have been pulled off the road at the same time and why?
Answer: 2,426 Taxis and 9,796 PHVs (so a total of 12,222 vehicles). The non-compliance issues reported are mainly related to: lights; having no Tax or MoT; external body panels; tyre wear; detection of infra-red reflective plates being applied, and; issues involving ancillary equipment such as wheelchair accessibility.
Question 3: How many drivers have been caught who should not be behind the wheel?
Answer: During this period a total of 20 drivers (4 taxi and 16 PHV) were identified as being either unlicensed or as having undertaken illegal activity.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
