Check Your Taxi This Christmas

People heading to enjoy a night out in Wrexham this Christmas are being urged to use licensed taxis.

In the build up to the busy festive period, Wrexham’s Council’s licensing team are launching a campaign highlighting the dangers of using unlicensed taxis.

The licensing section is this month launching a campaign highlighting the dangers of unlicensed taxis.

The campaign, launched with support from local private hire and taxi firms, will encourage the public to check that the vehicle has the appropriate plates and that the driver has a licensed badge of display.

Fully licensed taxi and private hire firms will also display posters and leaflets at their premises. Taxi marshals at licensed town centre premises will also wear hi-viz jackets to identify themselves.

Councillor David Griffiths, Lead Member for Health said “The safety of the public is paramount and they should always use a fully licensed taxi or private hire service.

“Vehicles licensed by Wrexham Council can be recognised by the white and purple coloured licence plates which must be displayed on the exterior of all vehicles. Private Hire Vehicles will also have yellow adhesive signs in the rear passenger windows.

“Unlicensed vehicles will not have passed the compliance testing and will not have adequate insurance so it’s really not worth taking the risk.”

Tips for safe taxi transport:

– Always use a reputable firm or operator, never accept a taxi from a ‘tout’ on the street, this is a sure sign that the service is illegal.

– All drivers must display a Licence badge which will show their name, photograph, licence number and expiry date of the licence. If in doubt- ask to see this.

– Hackney Carriages can be hailed off the street or picked up on a rank, these generally display an illuminated taxi sign on the roof of the vehicle and will always display a purple licence plate on the rear of the vehicle.

– Private Hire vehicles must be booked through a licensed operator and cannot be hailed on the street, these display white plates on the front and rear of the vehicle and yellow signs in the rear passenger windows.