Equality Act 2010 to force taxi drivers to help disabled passengers
TAXI drivers with wheelchair-accessible vehicles will soon have to provide extra help for disabled passengers – or risk breaking the law.
Changes to the law contained in the Equality Act 2010 state that from next year drivers of designated wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) will be duty bound to provide ‘physical assistance’ to passengers in wheelchairs.
The changes mean drivers of the designated vehicles will have to help passengers who choose to stay in their wheelchairs in and out of their taxis, or if the passenger wants to sit on the seat – will have to help them in and out of their wheelchair.
If a driver of one of the designated vehicles is physically unable to offer the help, they will have to apply for a special exemption certificate.
Outlining the requirements, a report to Halton Council’s regulatory committee said: “Mobility assistance essentially means helping passengers who use wheelchairs by providing physical assistance.
“If the passenger wishes to remain in the wheelchair, the driver must help the passenger to get into and out of the vehicle.
“If the passenger wants to transfer to a seat, the driver must help him or her to get out of the wheelchair and into a seat and back into the wheelchair.
“The driver must also load the wheelchair into the vehicle and must also offer to load the passenger’s luggage into and out of the vehicle.”
Parts of the act came into force in October. These additional requirements are due to come into force next year, but not before April 1.
source:
http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/
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