Dear Editor - I am the proprietor of Castle Cars in Pembroke and would like to respond to the article Cabbies form group to fight older car ban' (March 5th).

The council spokesman stated that a number of safety measures were being taken into consideration about airbags and advanced braking systems on taxis.

Airbags were introduced into vehicles around 1992/1993, not in 2003, which will bring us into the five year rule, so most cars from 1993 will have airbags in them.

In 1994, ABS brakes became standard equipment on most cars, so many vehicles from 1995 have both fitted on them.

The spokesman also stated they have been in consultation with taxi traders over the last 12 months about the colour and age of vehicles.

I have been to every meeting the traders were invited to and in December, the colour code was voted out, as well as the five-year rule.

A meeting was then called in January, which only a couple of firms knew about, and the five-year rule was passed.

If the council is so interested in public safety they should try to catch unlicensed vehicles.

All the public wants is a car to get them home, whether it is five-years-old or ten-years-old, it doesn't matter to them.

The authorities should try to make our jobs safer as we are the ones dealing with abuse and drunk people at night.

Mr M. C. LLEWELLYN Proprietor, Castle Cars, 35 Coldwell Terrace, The Green, Pembroke.

12:15pm Friday 14th March 2008

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