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| Black cabs suspended after fire | Black cabs suspended after fire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Five hundred black cabs have been taken off London's roads after an eighth taxi in three months burst into flames. | Five hundred black cabs have been taken off London's roads after an eighth taxi in three months burst into flames. |
| Transport for London (TfL) announced its decision within hours of the latest vehicle's engine catching fire in central London on Wednesday night. | |
| TX4-type cabs with a 56 registration must pass a safety inspection by manufacturers LTI before being allowed back on the road. | |
| TfL said the safety of taxi drivers and passengers was its main concern. | TfL said the safety of taxi drivers and passengers was its main concern. |
| On Wednesday, TfL said it was ordering all the TX4-type with a 56 registration to undergo safety checks after reports of engine fires. | On Wednesday, TfL said it was ordering all the TX4-type with a 56 registration to undergo safety checks after reports of engine fires. |
| We expect that either the manufacturer or the dealers will fully compensate all the drivers Bob Oddy | We expect that either the manufacturer or the dealers will fully compensate all the drivers Bob Oddy |
| But after the latest incident the vehicles have been completely withdrawn pending assessments by the manufacturer LTI, which is based in Coventry. | But after the latest incident the vehicles have been completely withdrawn pending assessments by the manufacturer LTI, which is based in Coventry. |
| "This is not a step we take lightly, but we cannot take any chances with the lives of London's taxi drivers or their passengers," the TfL spokesman said. | "This is not a step we take lightly, but we cannot take any chances with the lives of London's taxi drivers or their passengers," the TfL spokesman said. |
| "Licences will only be reinstated once LTI have certified that individual vehicles have received a safety check." | "Licences will only be reinstated once LTI have certified that individual vehicles have received a safety check." |
| Bob Oddy, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, told BBC London: "The drivers I've spoken to, who were personally involved, haven't had any passengers in their cabs. | |
| "They had plenty of time to get out of their cabs before the vehicles flared up. | "They had plenty of time to get out of their cabs before the vehicles flared up. |
| "Some of the reports have implied that they're flaring up very quickly. That's not really the case." | "Some of the reports have implied that they're flaring up very quickly. That's not really the case." |
| He added: "We're particularly concerned about the loss of time that our drivers are experiencing and we expect that either the manufacturer or the dealers will fully compensate all the drivers who lose working time. | |
| "I honestly don't think there will be a decrease in the number of passengers taking cabs. The problem has been dealt with and I think anyone hailing a cab today can do so with confidence." | "I honestly don't think there will be a decrease in the number of passengers taking cabs. The problem has been dealt with and I think anyone hailing a cab today can do so with confidence." |
| The Labour Group on the London Assembly said London Mayor Boris Johnson should now reconsider his proposals to reduce taxi inspections from twice to once a year. | |
| Valerie Shawcross, Labour's transport spokesperson, said: "These fires serve to illustrate the need for regular testing as reducing their frequency could put passengers at risk. | |
| "It's pure chance that so far neither a passenger nor driver has been seriously injured." |