Disability Discrimination Act 1995

32 Taxi accessibility regulations. U.K.

[F1 (1) The [F2 Department 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—

  (a)

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

  (b)

  seats not more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver]]

Extent Information

E1 Following the repeal of this Act for E.W.S. by the Equality Act 2010, this section now extends to Northern Ireland only. It incorporates the modifications for N.I. set out in Sch. 8 para. 16; see s. 70(6)

Textual Amendments

F1 Act repealed (E.W.S.) (1.10.2010 (except for the repeal of ss. 49A-49D) and 5.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), 216(3), Sch. 27 Pt. 1 (as substituted (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, Sch. 2) (with ss. 6(4), 205, and with amendments and savings in the said S.I. 2010/2279, art. 16); S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(15)(f) (with arts. 4-25, Schs. 1-16); S.I. 2011/1066, art. 2(h)

F2 Words in s. 32(1) substituted (N.I.) by virtue of s. 70(6), Sch. 8 para. 16(1) of this Act

F3 Words in s. 32(1) substituted (N.I.) by virtue of s. 70(6), Sch. 8 para. 16(2) of this Act

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 32-34: transfer of functions (N.I.) (8.5.2016) from the Department of the Environment to the Department for Infrastructure by The Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/76), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 Pt. 2 (with art. 9)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 32 in force (N.I.) (18.9.2015) by S.R. 2015/333, art. 2