New law requiring taxi drivers not to discriminate against wheelchair users in danger of being toothless.
Taxi drivers face £1,000 fines for refusing to take or help wheelchair users, or if they charge wheelchair users more. But the new law only takes effect if the local council has created a “designated list” of wheelchair accessible taxis.
Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010 permits, but does not require, LAs (Local Authorities) to maintain a designated list of wheelchair accessible taxis and PHVs (Private Hire Vehicles).
Earlier, in February, Disability Rights UK welcomed the law change on equal treatment for disabled taxi users as accessible transport is both an ongoing and growing concern for disabled people.
However, the refusal of councils to act on this law change renders it toothless.
Disability activist Doug Paulley, who won a Supreme Court case against First Group over wheelchair access on buses, submitted Freedom of Information requests to all 366 taxi licensing councils, and Transport for London to find out who had set up designated lists.
He found:
- Only 41% (25% in Scotland) of British taxi licensing authorities either have a list or have a plan to create one this financial year.
- 26% of authorities have actively decided not to work towards such a list at the moment.
You can view Doug’s full report at www.kingqueen.org.uk/s167/
Doug has also provided useful information about how you can get your authority to compile a list