Mandatory disability awareness training for taxi drivers

Disabled passengers: duties of drivers

The updated Equality Act 2010 Act imposes duties on all drivers of taxis or private hire vehicles which have been hired by or for a disabled person or by another person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person. This section is applicable to a disabled person who is able and wants to travel in a non-wheelchair accessible vehicle. The duties are

  • To carry the passenger
  • If the passenger is in or has with them a wheelchair, to carry the wheelchair
  • If the passenger has with them any mobility aids, to carry the mobility aids
  • To take such steps, as are reasonable to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort
  • To give the passenger such mobility assistance* as is reasonably required
  • Not to make, or to propose to make, any additional charge for complying with these duties

*Mobility assistance is defined as assistance

  • To enable the passenger to get into or out of the vehicle
  • If the passenger wishes to remain in the wheelchair, to enable the passenger to get into and out of the vehicle while in the wheelchair
  • To load the passenger’s luggage into or out of the vehicle
  • If the passenger does not wish to remain in the wheelchair, to load the wheelchair into or out of the vehicle.

Disabled passengers in wheelchairs: duties of drivers of designated vehicles

Under the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 a vehicle is wheelchair accessible if capable of carrying wheelchair users either in their wheelchair or in a passenger seat (depending on which the wheelchair user prefers), including allowing passengers to
 

                        i)          get into and out of the vehicle in safety

                        ii)         travel in the vehicle in safety and reasonable comfort

The new legislation has also updated the requirements for drivers of a designated taxi or designated private hire vehicle which has been hired by or for a disabled person who is in a wheelchair or by another person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person who is in a wheelchair.

The additional duties for designated vehicles are

  • To carry the passenger while in the wheelchair
  • If the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat, to carry the wheelchair
  • If the passenger has with them any mobility aids, to carry the mobility aids
  • To take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort
  • To give the passenger such mobility assistance* as is reasonably required
  • Not to make, or propose to make, any additional charge for complying with these duties