Posted on the 31st March 2026 in PHTM News

DUNDEE CRACKS DOWN AFTER HALF OF CITY TAXIS FAIL SAFETY TESTS

Dundee is cracking down on taxi safety after shocking figures revealed that 50% of the city's cabs consistently fail their annual roadworthiness inspections.

For years, city mechanics have seen one out of every two vehicles fail to meet licensing standards, prompting local officials to demand immediate changes to how the fleet is maintained.

The scale of the problem was laid bare in a recent council report, which noted that the 50% failure rate has persisted "for many years."

Recent spot checks have been equally alarming; during a police operation last month, 33 out of 64 taxis stopped at city ranks failed inspection after being escorted to the council garage.

These figures stand in stark contrast to neighbouring areas, where the failure rate is just 13% in Angus and a mere 5% in Fife.

In response, Dundee City Council’s licensing board has approved new rules requiring drivers to perform rigorous daily inspections.

Before starting a shift, drivers must now check essential components including brakes, steering, oil levels, and tyre pressure.

Committee convener Stewart Hunter made it clear that the status quo cannot continue. "For a number of years now, 50% of our taxis are failing their tests. That is not acceptable," Hunter said.

While the city has avoided major incidents so far, he warned that "thankfully nothing serious has happened but that could happen next time."

He emphasised that the new checklists are a "sensible way to move forward" designed to protect both the public and the drivers themselves.


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