Stretched Limos

09th February 2008

THE Government is clamping down on stretched limos, amid safety fears that their rising popularity and a lack of regulation could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Owners of all hire vehicles with up to eight seats, including previously exempt limos, must now have a Private Hire Vehicle licence. And a fresh safety check will also ensure new, larger limos – many of which are imported from the US – comply with UK construction standards. Before models can be registered, tests will be carried out on weights, dimensions, turning circle, seating, brakes, doors, lights, reflectors and glazing.

Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick said
“This guidance will help operators ensure their vehicles can be used lawfully. In the summer we will introduce a strict pre-registration check to help ensure unsafe stretched limos are kept off our roads.” The laws come into force on 1 June. This coincides with the Department for Transport tightening the Single Vehicle Approval scheme that currently covers one-off hire cars with fewer than eight seats. Operators of these vehicles will no longer be allowed to ‘self declare’ that they won’t carry more than eight passengers. This will prevent some unscrupulous firms dodging the Certificate of Initial Fitness that larger limos require.