Annual Report 1998

7. Taxi Working Group

Chairman

Members

Observers

Secretariat

Report

We started the year expecting to be advising the Government on draft regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act. Unfortunately these have not yet appeared and we hope that a consultation will come out from DETR early in 1999. Once the regulations come into force DPTAC will have a role in advising Ministers on exemption applications from licensing areas and we have begun work on establishing the principles of how that advice will be formulated.

We have also been considering the accessibility of private hire vehicles (PHVs), which are not covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. PHVs are often the only reliable form of public transport available to disabled people, especially in rural areas. Although we recognise that many disabled people prefer saloon car style PHVs there is a risk that the application of accessibility regulations on the hackney carriage trade may lead to a shift of drivers into the PHV sector. Once the effect of the regulations is clear it may be necessary for us to produce guidance on improving the accessibility of PHVs, even if this falls short of full wheelchair access.

Work on how taxicard or other similar schemes could be extended to help make accessible taxis more affordable for disabled people is also continuing. This would also help to encourage the trade to invest in accessible vehicles because of the potential for increased revenue. However, it is important that we do not promote the funding of taxi use at the expense of dial a ride and other door to door services. Although taxis are more flexible other forms of door to door services are often more cost effective and the best systems integrate the use of both.

BERT MASSIE
Chairman

Taxi Working Group - Work Programme 1999

To improve the understanding of the needs of disabled people by the industry and the needs of the industry among disabled people.

To work with DETR to bring forward accessibility regulations for hackney carriages under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

To improve the education of drivers in the use of existing accessible vehicles.

To see if guidance on improving access to saloon style taxis and private hire vehicles is necessary.

Terms of Reference for the Taxi Working Group

Any reference to DPTAC is to the Main Committee

1. The membership of the Group will be agreed with the Chairman of the Group and the Chairman of the DPTAC. Membership will be limited to no more than twenty members.

2. The membership of the Group will include representatives from disability interests, taxi operators, regulators and other appropriate interests.

3. The Group will normally meet at least four times a year.

4. The Chairman of the Group will generally be a full time member of DPTAC and will report on the Group's work to DPTAC.

5. The group will:

a) consider issues affecting elderly and disabled people travelling in taxis (Hackney) and private hire vehicles.

b) consider requests from DETR and other Government Departments to DPTAC for guidance/advice on policy issues and make recommendations to DPTAC on those issues.

c) undertake such work as they, in consultation with DPTAC, consider necessary to progress the interests of disabled people in relation to the taxi industry.

d) raise issues, through DPTAC, for consideration by the DETR.

e) draw up guidance and codes of practice, as necessary, for clearance by DPTAC for publication as formal DPTAC advice.

f) provide advice to DPTAC, on consultation papers from Government and other organisations.

g) provide advice to DPTAC in relation to its statutory role in respect of the taxi provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

6. All papers submitted to the Group will be confidential to its members and to members and details discussed within the Group should not be discussed with third parties, without prior agreement of the Secretariat.

Published 1 October 1999

Top of page