Welsh Limos

Limousine - the laws behind the glamour
Episode 4
7/6/2004

Would you be sitting quite so comfortably if you knew there were no safety regulations in force specifically for limousines and that any limo equipped to carry more than eight people is operating illegally ?

These days limousines aren't just for the adults. Children want to travel in style too, just like their favourite pop stars. But what parents out there might not realise is that if there are more than eight passenger seats in the back of a limo, it's actually illegal and dangerous.

South Wales Police Sergeant Nigel Whitehouse told us that: "If they were to brake severely, harshly then the people inside would be thrown forward, and the make up of these vehicles are such that a lot of them are fitted with bars, televisions -there's a lot of glass in there ... and obviously that could be a recipe for disaster in a collision." So why is eight the magic number?

According to British law any limousine with up to eight seats can be licensed by the local council as a taxi. But any vehicle with more than eight seats has to have a Public Service Vehicle licence, it has to meet the same standards as a minibus - but limos don't have safety features like fire exits or minimum headroom.

The number of limos on our streets is on the increase. X-Ray's been invited to accompany inspectors from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and South Wales Police to Swansea. They're concerned about the number of limousine company owners in the area who could be breaking the law.

Their aim is to inspect limos bringing teenagers to a disco arranged and supervised by South Wales Police. The rules are strict, no alcohol is allowed. Around eighteen hundred young party-goers usually turn up.

Altogether over twenty groups of teenagers arrive by limo; the inspectors' job is to check exactly how many children are in each one. Because of the increase in the number of limousines some fear that companies who ignore the law are giving the whole industry a bad name.

According to Bill Bowling, from the National Limousine Association (NLA): "The law is simple it states nice and clear eight seats is the maximum. We therefore have to comply with that." X-Ray decided to find out just how bad the situation is and how many Welsh companies are breaking the law.

Our researchers rang every Welsh company listed in the Yellow Pages.

We discovered that nearly half of all Welsh companies advertising chauffeur driven limousines were happy to hire out a car that will carry more than eight passengers. In total we spoke to seventy nine companies. Whilst forty one of them would only hire us a limo for up to eight passengers, thirty eight companies were happy to offer us limousines carrying anything between nine and eighteen passengers.

According to Bill Bowling: "We seem to have more rogue operators in Wales than virtually anywhere else in the country. The rest of the country tends to play fairly tightly by the rules with the exception of London which still has problems getting their regulation in place, but Wales seems to be the hotspot for illegal operators."

In Swansea, the inspectors count three limos carrying more than eight passengers. The first culprit was a white limo. The inspectors count a total of fourteen passengers emerging. Three minutes later the inspectors spot another one. This time with ten passengers. And soon another one arrives, this time carrying nine partygoers.

According to Sergeant Nigel Whitehouse, parents should be aware of the dangers. "We saw one vehicle pulling up tonight where some of the youngsters were hanging out of the vehicle. If that vehicle were involved in a collision - it would be a recipe for disaster. We've got to attack parents really here for allowing their children. From a safety point of view when they leave the house, are they protected?" During the evening the vehicle inspectors are checking every nook and cranny. As well as limos they're also checking out the latest party going vehicle, an old fire engine. Half the vehicles were found to have mechanical faults and five of the limos had more than eight seats.

Paul Cowan, Area Manager of the Vehicle Operator & Services Agency told X-Ray: "I've seen vehicles with sixteen seats here today, clearly the seats are there for carrying passengers, but as far as I'm concerned they're not carrying those passengers legally." X-Ray talked to company owners ultimately responsible. They told us they think the law is confusing.

Carl Morgan, who owns Swansea Limousine Hire told us: "I don't know what the ruling is, if Swansea City council and the Department of Transport could get some ruling we would adhere to it, it's just that at the moment we're in a no-win situation, and I don't where we're going to go." The limo with fourteen passengers is owned by David Simister.

He told X-Ray as far as he's concerned there are no specific rules and regulations for limousines, he just tries to keep up standards. But the official bodies say the rules are clear enough. They say the problem is that some companies just choose to ignore them.

Bill Bowling told us: "My worst fear is that when the inevitable happens and a serious accident occurs there will be children going to a prom in it and again it's like having unlicensed taxis, you wouldn't let your children climb into an unlicensed and unregistered taxi, so the same thing applies to the limousine industry." But until the law is effectively enforced, it's left to parents to check the limo they book is safe.

WRU Site, Swansea Neath Ospreys, Swansea University, City and County of Swansea, Swansea Cork Ferries, Swansea City FC, Swansea RFC, Swansea College, The Wave , Swansea Limo, Blackpool Hen Party, Swansea Hen Party, Swansea Wedding Cars, Swansea Stag Party, Swansea Christmas Party, Christmas Limo, Rugby Transport, Cardiff Rugby Trip, Pontardawe limo, Pontardawe Wedding Cars, Pontardawe Rugby Club, The Phone Centre, Welsh Limos ,