Part 12Disabled persons: transport

Chapter 1Taxis, etc.

165AF1Disabled passengers: assistance to identify and find vehicle

1

This section imposes duties on the driver of a private hire vehicle or pre-booked taxi where the following two conditions are met.

2

The first condition is that the private hire vehicle or pre-booked taxi has been hired—

a

by or for a disabled person, or

b

by another person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person.

3

The second condition is that the driver of the private hire vehicle or pre-booked taxi has been made aware before the start of the passenger’s journey in the vehicle that the passenger requires assistance to identify or find that vehicle.

4

For the purposes of this section—

a

a taxi is “pre-booked” if it has been hired otherwise than as a result of plying or standing for hire;

b

the passenger” means the disabled person concerned.

5

The duties are—

a

to take such steps as are reasonable to assist the passenger to identify and find the vehicle which has been hired;

b

not to make, or propose to make, any additional charge for complying with the duty mentioned in paragraph (a).

6

The driver of a private hire vehicle or pre-booked taxi commits an offence by failing to comply with a duty imposed on the driver by this section.

7

A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.