WE are warned we risk severe punishment if we drink and drive.

There are few, if any, buses late at night -- particularly in rural areas like Buckinghamshire.

We are told to use registered taxi companies for our own safety. Yet this week the shocking state of some of the taxis on our roads and the case of a taxi driver, who was convicted of indecently assaulting two young women who got into his cab after enjoying a night out in High Wycombe, has highlighted the need for strict new regulations for both the drivers and their vehicles.

We pay for taxis and, therefore, there should be strict regulations that are adhered to and checked.

Women would never consider walking home at night alone because they know about the dangers of wandering the streets at night. These same women are encouraged to use taxis, particularly where the bus services are so poor. We now discover that even these alternatives may not always be safe.

The shame of this situation is that only a minority of drivers and vehicles pose a danger to their passengers, yet they taint the reputation of those who operate a safe, reliable and important service to the community.

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