Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Policy

Section 165

All drivers of designated vehicles must comply with Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010. This Act sets out the duties placed on drivers of designated wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs.  The duties are:

• to carry the passenger while in the wheelchair
• not to make any additional charge for doing so
• if the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat to carry the wheelchair
• to take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort
• to give the passenger such mobility assistance as is reasonably required

The Act then goes on to define mobility assistance as giving assistance:

• to enable the passenger to get into or out of the vehicle
• to enable the passenger to get in and out of the vehicle while in a wheelchair
• to load the passenger's luggage into or out of the vehicle
• to load the wheelchair into or out of the vehicle should the passenger not wish to remain in the wheelchair

Any driver of a designated vehicle with a medical reason for not complying with these requirements must obtain a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner to exempt him.  An application must then be made to the Council for an Exemption Certificate. A payment for such certificate(s) may be charged.

Section 168

This section imposes duties on the driver of a taxi which has been hired -

• by or for a disabled person who is accompanied by an assistance dog
• by another person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person with an assistance dog.

The driver must:

• carry the disabled person's dog and allow it to remain with that person
• not make any additional charge for doing so

Any breach of the Equality Act will be treated seriously. All drivers where failings under the act are proven may be prosecuted and will be referred to Licensing Committee for a review of their licence with consideration given to revocation.