Part V Public Transport

Taxis

E132 Taxi accessibility regulations.

1

The Secretary of State 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;

  • F1“taxi” means a vehicle licensed under—

    1. a

      section 37 of the M1Town Police Clauses Act 1847, or

    2. b

      section 6 of the M2Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869,

    but does not include a taxi which is drawn by a horse or other animal.

  • F1“taxi” means a taxi within the meaning of the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 which is licensed under section 13 of that Act for use in standing or plying for hire or reward or to carry passengers for hire or reward.