Novelty tuk-tuks licensed for use as private hire vehicles in Blackpool are putting passengers at risk, according to a leading safety group.
Blackpool Council has just granted licences to two separate operators to use the motorised rickshaws, popular in the Far East, on the streets of the town.
But Taxiwise, the national campaign for the safe use of taxis, believes the three-wheeled vehicles offer little protection to passengers in the event of an accident and do not have the modern safety features seen on most normal vehicles.
“You have to ask, where does the novelty value end and safety concerns start?” said Celeste Clarke, national spokesperson for Taxiwise, which is fighting for higher standards among vehicles used as cabs and to stamp out bogus drivers.
“These tuk-tuks might be different but are they really safe enough to be carrying paying passengers?
“Vehicles licensed for use as taxis need to undergo strict, regular safety checks and meet high safety standards as vehicles and the background of any driver applying for a licence to operate is fully investigated. This gives passengers peace of mind.
“We want to see safety standards like this maintained across the whole of the UK as well as rules on the type of vehicle that can be used as a taxi so people can immediately identify a genuine cab from one that is not.
“There is no question that the tuk-tuk is distinctive but will it keep passengers safe in the event of an accident in the same way that a purpose-built London taxi would for instance?
“Councils should look closely at their duty of care to passengers before licensing these vehicles, whether as a Hackney carriage or for private hire.”
The tuk-tuks in Blackpool are only licensed for use if booked in advance and cannot be flagged down on the street like a properly-licensed taxi.
Brighton already has licensed tuk-tuks operating on the streets. Last year a woman in her 20s was injured when a tuk-tuk collided with a parked car in the town.