Part V Public Transport
Taxis
E1C1C236I1 Carrying of passengers in wheelchairs.
F11
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 F2vehicle.
F31A
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 theF4vehicleconcerned; 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 F4vehicle;
ii
if the passenger wishes to remain in his wheelchair, to enable him to be conveyed into and out of the F4vehicle while in his wheelchair;
iii
to load the passenger’s luggage into or out of the F4vehicle;
iv
if the passenger does not wish to remain in his wheelchair, to load the wheelchair into or out of the F4vehicle.
4
Nothing in this section is to be taken to require the driver of any F4vehicle—
a
except in the case of a F4vehicle 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 F5or 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
F6a
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,
F7b
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 F8vehicle.
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.
F910
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).
F1012
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.