Part V Public Transport

Taxis

I1E1C132 Taxi accessibility regulations.

F11

The F2Department of the Environment may make regulations (“taxi accessibility regulations”) for the purpose of securing that it is possible—

a

for disabled persons—

i

to get into and out of taxis in safety;

ii

to be carried in taxis in safety and in reasonable comfort; and

b

for disabled persons in wheelchairs—

i

to be conveyed in safety into and out of taxis while remaining in their wheelchairs; and

ii

to be carried in taxis in safety and in reasonable comfort while remaining in their wheelchairs.

2

Taxi accessibility regulations may, in particular—

a

require any regulated taxi to conform with provisions of the regulations as to—

i

the size of any door opening which is for the use of passengers;

ii

the floor area of the passenger compartment;

iii

the amount of headroom in the passenger compartment;

iv

the fitting of restraining devices designed to ensure the stability of a wheelchair while the taxi is moving;

b

require the driver of any regulated taxi which is plying for hire, or which has been hired, to comply with provisions of the regulations as to the carrying of ramps or other devices designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of wheelchairs;

c

require the driver of any regulated taxi in which a disabled person who is in a wheelchair is being carried (while remaining in his wheelchair) to comply with provisions of the regulations as to the position in which the wheelchair is to be secured.

3

The driver of a regulated taxi which is plying for hire, or which has been hired, is guilty of an offence if—

a

he fails to comply with any requirement imposed on him by the regulations; or

b

the taxi fails to conform with any provision of the regulations with which it is required to conform.

4

A person who is guilty of such an offence is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

5

In this section—

  • “passenger compartment” has such meaning as may be prescribed;

  • “regulated taxi” means any taxi to which the regulations are expressed to apply;

  • F3“taxi” means a vehicle which—

    1. a

      is licensed under Article 61 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to stand or ply for hire; and

    2. b

      seats not more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver

C2E2C333 Designated transport facilities.

F41

In this section “a franchise agreement” means a contract entered into by the operator of a designated transport facility for the provision by the other party to the contract of hire car services—

a

for members of the public using any part of the transport facility; and

b

which involve vehicles entering any part of that facility.

2

The F5appropriate national authority may by regulations provide for the application of any taxi provision in relation to—

a

vehicles used for the provision of services under a franchise agreement; or

b

the drivers of such vehicles.

3

Any regulations under subsection (2) may apply any taxi provision with such modifications as the F6authority making the regulations considers appropriate.

4

In this section—

  • F7appropriate national authority means—

    1. a

      in relation to transport facilities in England and Wales, the Secretary of State, and

    2. b

      in relation to transport facilities in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers (but see subsection (5));

  • “designated” means designated for the purposes of this section by an order made by the F5appropriate national authority;

  • “hire car” has such meaning as may be F8specified by regulations made by the appropriate national authority;

  • “operator”, in relation to a transport facility, means any person who is concerned with the management or operation of the facility;

  • “taxi provision” means any provision of—

    1. a

      this Act, or

    2. b

      regulations made in pursuance of section 20(2A) of the M1Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982,

    which applies in relation to taxis or the drivers of taxis; and

  • “transport facility” means any premises which form part of any port, airport, railway station or bus station.

F95

The Secretary of State may, for the purposes mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (implementation of Community obligations etc. of the United Kingdom), exercise the powers conferred by this section on the Scottish Ministers.

E3C434 New licences conditional on compliance with taxi accessibility regulations.

F101

The Department of the Environment shall not grant a public service vehicle licence under Article 61 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 for a taxi unless the vehicle conforms with those provisions of the taxi accessibility regulations with which it will be required to conform if licensed

2

Subsection (1) does not apply if such a licence was in force with respect to the vehicle at any time during the period of 28 days immediately before the day on which the licence is granted.

3

The Department of the Environment may by order provide for subsection (2) to cease to have effect on such date as may be specified in the order

E435 Exemption from taxi accessibility regulations.

F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E5C5C636I2 Carrying of passengers in wheelchairs.

F121

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

a

by or for a disabled person who is in a wheelchair; or

b

by a person who wishes such a disabled person to accompany him in the F13vehicle.

F141A

This section also imposes duties on the driver of a designated vehicle other than a regulated taxi if—

a

the designated vehicle is being used to provide a local service (within the meaning of section 2 of the Transport Act 1985), and

b

a person falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) has indicated to the driver that he wishes to travel on the service.

2

In this section—

  • “carry” means carry in the F15vehicle concerned; and

  • “the passenger” means the disabled person concerned.

3

The duties are—

a

to carry the passenger while he remains in his wheelchair;

b

not to make any additional charge for doing so;

c

if the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat, to carry the wheelchair;

d

to take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and in reasonable comfort;

e

to give such assistance as may be reasonably required—

i

to enable the passenger to get into or out of the F15vehicle;

ii

if the passenger wishes to remain in his wheelchair, to enable him to be conveyed into and out of the F15vehicle while in his wheelchair;

iii

to load the passenger’s luggage into or out of the F15vehicle;

iv

if the passenger does not wish to remain in his wheelchair, to load the wheelchair into or out of the F15vehicle.

4

Nothing in this section is to be taken to require the driver of any F15vehicle—

a

except in the case of a F15vehicle of a prescribed description, to carry more than one person in a wheelchair, or more than one wheelchair, on any one journey; or

b

to carry any person in circumstances in which it would otherwise be lawful for him to refuse to carry that person.

5

A driver of a regulated taxi F16or designated vehicle who fails to comply with any duty imposed on him by this section is guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

6

In any proceedings for an offence under this section, it is a defence for the accused to show that, even though at the time of the alleged offence

F17a

in the case of a regulated taxi,

the taxi conformed with those provisions of the taxi accessibility regulations with which it was required to conform,

F18b

in the case of a designated vehicle, the vehicle conformed to the accessibility requirements which applied to it,

it would not have been possible for the wheelchair in question to be carried in safety in the F19vehicle.

7

If the licensing authority is satisfied that it is appropriate to exempt a person from the duties imposed by this section—

a

on medical grounds, or

b

on the ground that his physical condition makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for him to comply with the duties imposed on drivers by this section,

it shall issue him with a certificate of exemption.

8

A certificate of exemption shall be issued for such period as may be specified in the certificate.

9

The driver of a regulated taxi is exempt from the duties imposed by this section if—

a

a certificate of exemption issued to him under this section is in force; and

b

the prescribed notice of his exemption is exhibited on the taxi in the prescribed manner.

F2010

The driver of a designated vehicle is exempt from the duties imposed by this section if—

a

a certificate of exemption issued to him under this section is in force; and

b

he is carrying the certificate on the vehicle.

11

The driver of a designated vehicle who is exempt under subsection (10) must show the certificate, on request, to a person falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1).

F2112

In this section—

  • “designated vehicle” means a vehicle which appears on a list maintained under section 36A;

  • “licensing authority” has the meaning given by section 36A.

36AF44List of wheelchair-accessible vehicles providing local services

F22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I3E6C737 Carrying of guide dogs and hearing dogs.

F231

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

a

by or for a disabled person who is accompanied by his guide dog or hearing dog, or

b

by a person who wishes such a disabled person to accompany him in the taxi.

2

The disabled person is referred to in this section as “the passenger”.

3

The duties are—

a

to carry the passenger’s dog and allow it to remain with the passenger; and

b

not to make any additional charge for doing so.

4

A driver of a taxi who fails to comply with any duty imposed on him by this section is guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

5

If the licensing authority is satisfied that it is appropriate on medical grounds to exempt a person from the duties imposed by this section, it shall issue him with a certificate of exemption.

6

In determining whether to issue a certificate of exemption, the licensing authority shall, in particular, have regard to the physical characteristics of the taxi which the applicant drives or those of any kind of taxi in relation to which he requires the certificate.

7

A certificate of exemption shall be issued—

a

with respect to a specified taxi or a specified kind of taxi; and

b

for such period as may be specified in the certificate.

8

The driver of a taxi is exempt from the duties imposed by this section if—

a

a certificate of exemption issued to him under this section is in force with respect to the taxi; and

b

the prescribed notice of his exemption is exhibited on the taxi in the prescribed manner.

9

The Secretary of State may, for the purposes of this section, prescribe any other category of dog trained to assist a disabled person who has a disability of a prescribed kind.

10

This section applies in relation to any such prescribed category of dog as it applies in relation to guide dogs.

11

In this section—

  • “guide dog” means a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person; and

  • “hearing dog” means a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person.

E7C837AF24 Carrying of assistance dogs in private hire vehicles

F251

It is an offence for the operator of a F26taxi to fail or refuse to accept a booking for a F26taxi—

a

if the booking is requested by or on behalf of a disabled person, or a person who wishes a disabled person to accompany him; and

b

the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person will be accompanied by his assistance dog.

2

It is an offence for the operator of a F26taxi to make an additional charge for carrying an assistance dog which is accompanying a disabled person.

3

It is an offence for the driver of a F26taxi to fail or refuse to carry out a booking accepted by the operator of the vehicle—

a

if the booking was made by or on behalf of a disabled person, or a person who wishes a disabled person to accompany him; and

b

the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person is accompanied by his assistance dog.

4

A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

5

If the F27Department of the Environment is satisfied that it is appropriate on medical grounds to issue a certificate of exemption to a driver in respect of subsection (3) it must do so.

6

In determining whether to issue a certificate of exemption, the F27Department of the Environment shall, in particular, have regard to the physical characteristics of the F26taxi which the applicant drives or those of any kind of F26taxi in relation to which he requires the certificate.

7

A certificate of exemption shall be issued—

a

with respect to a specified F26taxi or a specified kind of F26taxi; and

b

for such period as may be specified in the certificate.

8

No offence is committed by a driver under subsection (3) if—

a

a certificate of exemption issued to him under this section is in force with respect to the F26taxi; and

b

the prescribed notice is exhibited on the F26taxi in the prescribed manner.

9

In this section—

  • “assistance dog” means a dog which—

    1. a

      has been trained to guide a blind person;

    2. b

      has been trained to assist a deaf person;

    3. c

      has been trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person who has a disability which—

      1. i

        consists of epilepsy; or

      2. ii

        otherwise affects his mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects;

  • F28“booking” means a taxi booking within the meaning given by section 57(1) of the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;

  • F29“driver” means a person who holds a taxi driver's licence granted under—

    1. a

      Article 79A of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981; or

    2. b

      section 23 of the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;

  • “licensing authority”, in relation to any area of England and Wales, means the authority responsible for licensing private hire vehicles in that area;

  • F30“operator” means a person who holds an operator's licence granted under section 2 of the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;

  • F31“F26taxi” means a vehicle which—

    1. a

      seats not more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver; and

    2. b

      is licensed under Article 61 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to carry passengers for hire (but not to stand or ply for hire).

E8I4C9C1038F32AppealsF32Appeal against refusal of exemption certificate

F331

Any person who is aggrieved by the refusal of F34the Department of the Environment to issue an exemption certificate under F35section 36, 37 or 37A may appeal to F36a magistrates' court F37, a court of summary jurisdictionF38or, in Scotland, the sheriff court before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the refusal.

2

On an appeal to it under F39subsection (1)F39this section, the court may direct the F40Department of the Environment to issue the appropriate certificate of exemption to have effect for such period as may be specified in the direction.

3

F41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F424

Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of a licensing authority to include a vehicle on a list maintained under section 36A may appeal to a magistrates' court or, in Scotland, the sheriff court before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the inclusion.

5

In this section “licensing authority” has the meaning given by section 36A.

E939 Requirements as to disabled passengers in Scotland.

F43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .