Taxi and private hire drivers could have to undergo awareness training under new proposals aimed at improving the lives of disabled people.
The Mirror reports that plans would ensure businesses across the country are aware of disabled people’s needs, such as whether they require access for a Guide Dog.
Making improvements in the courts system so more disabled people can be on juries, and bringing in a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE are among other measures being considered as part of the Government's Disability Action Plan.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said proposals include encouraging more autism-friendly programmes in the cultural and heritage sectors and promoting assistive technology to make sure more disabled people have access.
Plans will also look at legislating for mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and private hire drivers "to unlock greater travel freedom for disabled people".
People are being urged to respond to a newly-launched consultation, which opened on Tuesday 18 July and runs for 12 weeks, and which will be used to inform the plan later this year: https://shorturl.at/fhjl2
It will be open for anyone to comment to ensure it is informed by the experience and views of disabled people, disability organisations and charities.
Minister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove said the government “wants disabled people to be at the heart of decision making”.
He said: “Our Disability Action Plan will lay out practical measures we can implement here and now to improve the lives of disabled people.
"From leading the way globally with assistive technology to improving inclusivity and accessibility across sport, travel and culture, the Plan will also be important in setting the stage for longer term change.
"We want disabled people to be at the heart of decision making and I would encourage anyone interested to respond to this consultation so the views of disabled people across the country are front and centre of our final Disability Action Plan.”
The Plan builds on the passing of landmark legislation, including the Down Syndrome Act and British Sign Language Act – and a consultation to support the introduction of a new BSL GCSE.
Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/taxi-drivers-could-disability-awareness-30489381
Hyndburn Borough Council is considering shaking up its licensing regime for older taxis and private hire vehicles.
According to the Lancashire Telegraph it is also proposing the removal of the requirement for all of them to carry a fire extinguisher and first aid kit, both of which are currently mandatory in Hyndburn borough.
Now the council is consulting on removing the requirement from its Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
It is also looking at reducing the frequency of road worthiness tests for vehicles aged between ten and 15 years old.
A Hyndburn Council spokesperson said: "Currently all vehicles should carry a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
"We are considering removing this requirement for the following reasons.
"If a vehicle is on fire, the advice given by the fire authority is to leave the vehicle and move away from it, and the fire extinguisher in the vehicle would not be sufficient to put out an engine fire.
"Only a trained first aider is permitted to administer first aid so a condition which requires the driver to carry a first aid kit would appear to be unreasonable.
"Currently all vehicles over the age of ten years have to be tested three times a year and are only issued with a licence for four months, excluding hybrids.
"However if a vehicle over the age of ten years passes its test the first time on three consecutive occasions, it will be issued with a six month licence on the third occasion.
"This was introduced as an incentive to encourage owners to maintain older vehicles to a high standard.
"The licensing manager has now been asked to commence a consultation relating to the first aid kit and fire extinguisher requirements.
"The proposal to be consulted upon would amend the conditions to allow all vehicles between the age of two years and 15 years to be granted with a six months licence regardless of whether they are hybrid or not.
"Once a vehicle reaches the age of 15 years it will revert to three tests a year and be issued with a four months licence.
"Comments should be submitted to Hyndburn Council licensing department before 4pm on August 8."
Source: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23663801.hyndburn-taxi-licence-shake-up-proposed-council/
Salam Drivers
"We had a meeting with licensing department yesterday afternoon and they have agreed to review most of the policies we put forward but they are not willing to give a timeframe.
"They have started working on vehicle age limit but can’t give a date of when it will be done.
"As for the 6 months compliance test they have agreed to review this policy although at first they were reluctant because they changed this policy only last year when they give us 12 month plates
"As things stand we are going ahead with the taxi protest on Wednesday 26th July outside Wakefield Town hall
"All drivers try to attend and get this message across to everyone unless we get a good turnout council won’t take us seriously.
"They have refused to give temporary plates until they pass new policy
"We have done everything we could have as an association now it’s down to drivers."
Thanks Yasar
People getting a taxi in Jersey will now pay more as prices increased on Monday 17 July 2023.
ITV News reports that fares have gone up by roughly 12 per cent, meaning a £20 journey will go up by more than £2.
The rate was proposed by the minister, Deputy Tom Binet, at a meeting with drivers last week, with all private hire firms and representatives attending, including the Jersey Taxi Drivers’ Association.
The minister had the power to propose any rate he wished but Deputy Binet went with the established formula.
The Minister reviews taxi and cab tariffs each year with reference to the Retail Price Index (Taxi) - this is a special index, calculated by Statistics Jersey to reflect the costs of commercial motoring taking into account relevant costs such as fuel, insurance and vehicle maintenance.
New rates which will apply to all 270 plate holders in Jersey, a figure that has fallen by about 40 drivers since 2020, are as follows:
Tarrif 1 (Monday to Saturday, 7am-11pm): £3.75, plus 29p for every tenth of a mile.
Tarrif 2 (Monday to Saturday, 11pm to 7am; all day Sunday; public holidays):£3.85, plus 40p for every tenth of a mile.
Tarrif 3: (Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, 7pm to 7am, and from 7pm on New Year’s Eve until 7am on 2 January): £6.61, plus 43p for every tenth of a mile
Source: https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2023-07-17/taxi-prices-rise-in-jersey
A blind woman has spoken of her fury after she was 'refused a taxi' because of her guide dog and forced to walk a mile in the rain to get to her destination.
LancsLive reports that Adele Kinch and her partner Steven Yates, from Southport, claim they were refused travel in two cabs because they had their guide dog, Zebedee, accompanying them on a day out to visit Steven's mother on Tuesday 11 July.
The couple say they were ‘refused a taxi’ twice by staff after hiring a private vehicle from Radio Cabs Ashton and Swift Radio Cars to get from Stalybridge train station to their destination.
They claim they were refused a cab because of guide dog Zebedee and would have to "wait for a dog-friendly" car - leaving them little choice but to walk a mile home in the rain.
The incident happened despite the law stating that those assisted by guide dogs must have access to taxis with their animals, with no stipulation that they should have to wait for ‘dog-friendly’ vehicles as determined by the private hire company.
Steven, who also uses a mobility scooter, told the M.E.N: "We wanted to visit my mum in Stalybridge, I rang what I thought was two different taxi companies - though I’ve now found out they were amalgamated recently into one company.
"I phoned to ask for a taxi for my partner who is blind and has a guide dog.
"She was told she would have to wait because she had a dog. We were told we had to wait for a ‘dog-friendly’ taxi – but a guide dog is allowed in any vehicle.
"We had to walk from the station to my mum’s, it’s about a mile. It was really infuriating."
The law states that under the Equality Act 2010 taxi and private hire drivers are still obliged to carry guide dogs and assistance dogs at no extra cost to the passenger. In the case of taxis and private hire vehicles, refusing a person accompanied by a working assistance dog without a valid medical exemption certificate is a criminal offence, says the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
The organisation said: "It is unlawful in all but the most exceptional circumstances to refuse access to a disabled person accompanied by a guide dog. It is also unlawful to provide an inferior level of service because of a guide dog, for example, only allowing guide dog owners to use cars that permit pets.
"You are also not allowed to impose additional charges, such as cleaning charges, because someone is accompanied by a guide dog."
More advice from the charity reads that dogs are trained to sit in the footwells of vehicles like taxis, saying: "When traveling, guide dogs are trained to sit at their owner’s feet at all times, not to bother other people and not to climb on seats."
“This sort of thing does happen, not regularly, but it does happen. After we had the problems getting a taxi, we decided we were just going to walk,” added Adele.
“There had been a bit of rain, but I had taken off my guide dog’s coat because that’s what I normally do when I get a taxi and had thought that was what we were going to do. By the time we got halfway there walking, the heavens opened, which didn’t help, and we were drenched by the time we got there.”
Steven says he was left angry. “It just leaves you wondering when it’s going to happen again. It makes you angry.
“We were wondering how we were going to get back and how we’re going to see my mum again if we get refused next time. It’s upsetting.”
The couple claims they faced yet more problems trying to get home with the same private hire company. “I rang them again at around 6pm to be back at the station for 6.30pm and they did eventually send a taxi out for us,” explained Steven.
“But the car they sent was so small that my partner and the dog were very squashed. It was also so late that it made us miss our train home.
“We had to get a train to Bolton and then found out that we’d have to wait a really long time for a connecting train back to Southport. My partner’s parents ended up paying for a taxi back to Southport for us, it was £60.
We got back about 9.30pm.”
When approached for comment, staff at Radio Cabs Ashton and Swift Radio Cars confirmed they are now the same company after recently joining together.
Source: https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/blind-woman-forced-walk-home-27341915
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.
A joint operation by Hull City Council, Wolverhampton Council, and Humberside Police has uncovered a number of safety issues with taxis operating in the city.
French taxi drivers are calling for government compensation after suffering significant revenue losses during the Paris Olympics.
Coventry city centre has introduced a new taxi marshal service aimed at improving safety and efficiency for late-night revellers.
A court heard harrowing details of the moment a drink-driving uninsured motorist killed three people in a 90mph crash.