MC39900D
Joint Committee onMobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People
Policy Statement on:
Regulated taxis andPrivate Hire Vehicles
The Joint Committee on Mobility ofBlind and Partially Sighted People is an independent body consisting ofrepresentatives of all the principle organisations of and for blind, deafblindand partially sighted people with a specific interest in mobility. The JointCommittee believes that blind, deafblind and partially sighted people should beable to move around safely and independently.
The Joint Committee believes thatcurrently this is not the position and that blind, deafblind and partiallysighted people experience enormous barriers to freedom of movement, seriouslylimiting their opportunities and choices. The Joint Committee believes that allblind, deafblind and partially sighted people should receive the support andskills they need to enable them to meet the challenges of the travellingenvironment.
The Joint Committee believes that regulated taxis and private hirevehicles play a vital role in the overall transport system.
Regulated taxi and private hire vehicles are an essentialform of transport for blind, deafblind and partially sighted people who rely onthem for safe and independent mobility, particularly where public transport isinaccessible or unavailable. Thispolicy statement aims to highlight those concerns and make recommendations thatenable would regulated taxis and private hire vehicles to be part of a fullyintegrated and accessible transport system.
The importance of regulated taxis and private hirevehicles to blind, deafblind and partially sighted people
There are over one million blind and partially sightedpeople in the UK and nearly two million people with a significant sightproblem. Regulated taxis and privatehire vehicles represent a vital form of transport for blind and partiallysighted people. For many, they are easyto use, convenient and accessible.
One in seven people in a sample of over 500 stated thatregulated taxis and private hire vehicles were their most frequently used formof transport
One in five blind and partially sighted people of allages use a regulated taxi or private hire vehicle once a week or more
Blind and partially sighted people rely more onregulated taxis than the general population, although their incomes arelower. 35 per cent of disabled peoplereport spending more on their transport costs as a result of their disability. Higher charges for use of regulated taxisare one reason.
Blind people do not receive the higher rate mobilityallowance to assist with the additional costs of travelling.
More than two in three people say they find regulatedtaxis and private hire vehicles easy to use compared to other forms oftransport
Regulated taxis and private hire vehicles can offerdoor to door services, particularly beneficial to people unable to walk far oruse public transport.
Under section 32 of the DisabilityDiscrimination Act (DDA) 1995 the Government has powers to make taxiaccessibility regulations (in Scotland this power is under the Civic Government(Scotland Act) 1982 as amended).
In 1997, the Government produced aninformal consultation on its proposals for the taxi regulations that proposedall new vehicles would be accessible by 2002 and all vehicles used as regulatedtaxis by 2012.
The Joint Committee is concerned thatthe Government is yet to bring forward formal consultation on these regulationsand implement the regulations, despite the proposed start date drawing close.
Section 37 of the DDA places duties onregulated taxi drivers to carry assistance dogs at no extra charge to theowner. This section of the Act is yetto be implemented although Government is now promising a consultation onpossible exemptions during 2000. TheJoint Committee is disappointed at the continued delay in implementing thissection of the DDA.
The Joint Committee acknowledges thepractical difficulties in extending accessibility regulations to private hirevehicles that could result in the loss of many services. However, it does think it is both practicaland sensible to extend the requirement to carry an assistance dog at no extracharge to the owner to private hire vehicles.
The Disability Rights Task Force hasrecommended removing the exemption of transport operators from the first andOctober 1999 phases of the DDA. TheJoint Committee agrees this will provide rights to disabled people in relationto less favourable treatment and provision of auxiliary aids and services whenusing a PHV.
Key issues with regulated taxis andprivate hire vehicles for blind, deafblind and partially sighted people.
The following section highlights someof the key problems identified by blind, deafblind and partially sighted peoplein using regulated taxis and private hire vehicles, together withrecommendations for addressing these problems.
Over a third of blind and partiallysighted people said that hiring a taxi is their greatest source of difficulty,particularly from taxis at a rank.Virtually every guide dog owner has experience of being refused accessto regulated taxis or private hire vehicles due to his or her assistance dog.
Section 37 places duties on regulatedtaxis drivers to carry assistance dogs at no extra charge to the owner. Implementation of this duty by theGovernment is long overdue.
Exemptions to the duties should bestrictly limited within narrowly defined medical conditions. They should not include exemptions on thegrounds of cultural or religious beliefs.
Drivers of private hire vehicles arecurrently under no duty to carry assistance dogs at no extra charge to theowner. The Joint Committee believesthis is wrong and should be addressed at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Disability Rights Task Force hasrecommended that the Disability Rights Commission and the Disabled Persons TaskForce consider mechanisms for requiring the carriage of assistance dogs.
However, the Joint Committeeunderstands Local Authorities already have the power to require the carriage ofassistance dogs as the licensing authority for private hire vehicles. This power should become a standard conditionon the issue of new licences.
When booking private hire vehiclesblind, deafblind and partially sighted people should received the same standardof service as all other customers. Theyshould not have to wait for a vehicle where the driver agrees to take anassistance dog; it should be a right to be able to use all private hire vehicleservices.
The Joint Committee supports theremoval of the transport operator exemption from the first and October phasesof the DDA. This will providedisability people with the right to equal standards of service.
RNIB research showed that majority oftaxi drivers were both helpful and courteous regarding the needs of blind andpartially sighted passengers but nearly 40% found the level of assistance couldbe a problem. Blind, deafblind andpartially sighted people often use a service they trust and developrelationships with the drivers, another advantage of regulated taxis andprivate hire vehicles.
However, there are several factorsthat could limit the provision of this valuable assistance.
The Joint Committee believes thetransport operators should be covered under their insurance policies for theprovision of assistance to disabled people.This removes any justification for failing to provide that assistance.
The Joint Committee is concerned aboutan increase in taxi and private hire vehicle drivers who have received parkingtickets when assisting disabled people to reach their destination. The JointCommittee believes parking enforcement officers should be instructed that driversproviding this type of assistance should not receive penalties, unless causingan obvious danger to others.
Many drivers may not necessarilyunderstand the needs of disabled people, including blind, deafblind andpartially sighted people. Drivers of regulatedtaxis and private hire vehicles would benefit from a greater understanding ofthe needs of blind, deafblind and partially sighted people through formaltraining. The Joint Committee will beencouraging the development of training packages to assist drivers, building onexisting examples.
40 per cent of blind, deafblind andpartially sighted people reported the cost of taxi travel as being their mainconcern about their use. For blind andpartially sighted people, many of whom are on limited incomes, the additionalcosts of transport due to rely on regulated taxis can mean that journeys arenot undertaken, increasing their isolation.
The Joint Committee welcomes the wideruse of concessionary fare schemes that incorporate regulated taxis withineligible transport services. This isparticularly important in areas with limited public transport, such as ruralareas, and providing transport when services are absent, such as in theevenings and weekends.
The Joint Committee supports the useof Accessibility Regulations to bring forward improvements to the design anduse of regulated taxis and broadly welcomed the informal consultation onprovisions in 1997 which proposed all new vehicles would be accessible by 2002and all vehicles used as regulated taxis by 2012. The finalisation ofregulations and their introduction should be brought forward to ensure fullcompliance in the near future.
The key design changes to the informalconsultation requested by the Joint Committee included;
Introducing a requirement for luminance contrast oninternal and external door handles making them easier to locate
Ensuring all handrails achieved luminance contrast, bewarm to the touch and slip resistant.
Any ramp edges or protruding parts should be clearlyidentified
Lighting should be a key consideration when enteringthe vehicle
The Joint Committee understands thereasons why private hire vehicles can not be required to meet accessibilityregulations. However, improvements to the accessibility of all private carswould benefit many disabled people.
The Joint Committee would welcome anational assessment of vehicle types against accessibility criteria to considertheir suitability as a private hire vehicle.It could then become a licence condition for private hire operators touse suitable vehicles.
The Joint Committee believes that Taxilicence numbers within vehicles should enable blind, deafblind and partiallysighted people to identify the driver.Trials of such a system are likely in Scotland. If successful, this should be used to establishstandards throughout the United Kingdom.
The development of a talking taximeter should be encouraged to provide reassurance to blind and partiallysighted people that they are paying the correct fare.
Regulated taxis and private hirevehicles play an important part in the safe and independent mobility of blind,deafblind and partially sighted people.For many people they offer an accessible and easy to use way transportservice.
The following recommendations aim toaddress the key problems that remain;
Section 37 places duties on regulated taxis drivers tocarry assistance dogs, including guide dogs, at no extra charge to theowner. This should be implemented atthe earliest opportunity with only limited exemptions on medical grounds.
Local Authorities should use their power to require thecarriage of assistance dogs, including guide dogs, as a standard condition inissuing licences for private hire vehicles.
Transport operators exemption from the first andOctober phases of the DDA should be removed.
Transport operators and drivers should be covered undertheir insurance policies for the providing assistance to disabled people. This removes any justification for failingto provide that assistance.
Concessionary fare schemes should incorporate regulatedtaxis within eligible transport services.This is particularly important in areas with limited public transport,such as rural areas, and providing transport when services are absent, such asin the evenings and weekends.
Accessibility regulations for licensed regulated taxisshould be brought forward within the original timetable of 2002 for newvehicles and 2012 for all vehicles.
Future development of talking regulated taxis metersand driver identification within the vehicle should be promoted.