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The figures, taken from Transport for London Board papers, show that there was a 1,200 shortfall in the number of licensed taxi drivers Transport for London believed were needed for this year. There was also a 4,500 shortfall in the number of private hire drivers licensed leading to an overall shortage of taxi drivers in the capital of 5,700.
TfL points to 'significant problems with the quality of application and Criminal Records Bureau forms completed by the applicants and the medical forms completed by GPs', as the reason for the lack of the extra licensed cabbies.
London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, Graham Tope, said:-
"While the number of cabbies is increasing, it appears that the increase is falling well short of the number needed to meet demand.
"I am seriously concerned that the shortage of licensed cabbies could lead to more people using unlicensed minicabs because they are the cheapest and easiest form of transport to get home on a late night.
"It is time the Mayor raised their game in helping to get more cabbies registered and licensed before all the good work by Transport for London with their 'Safer Travel at Night' scheme is undone." |
