Taxi Driver Online

Cardiff cabbies fail the wheelchair test

Published on 14 Jul 2011

A Cardiff Council licensing worker using a wheelchair to test how taxi drivers treat wheelchair users found that only one out of four drivers correctly performed his duties.

The test was to establish whether the cabbies had vehicle ramps and that they were used properly, how they secured the wheelchair and whether they were overcharging wheelchair users.

Of the four vehicles approached for a hiring one refused to take the wheelchair user and two made an additional charge, one of whom also did not correctly secure the wheelchair.

Only one out of the four correctly performed his duties. The other drivers will be reported for disciplinary action.

The exercise came about following an increasing number of complaints to the Licensing Section from wheelchair users claiming taxi drivers do not treat them fairly and are reluctant to accept fares.

They are often refused fares, overcharged or are not secured correctly.

Councillor Ed Bridges, Chair of the Council's Public Protection Committee, said, "We expect taxi drivers to comply with the legal requirement to transport passengers in wheelchairs safely and in reasonable comfort.

"It is disappointing and concerning when we see any driver not living up to that expectation. The Public Protection Committee is here to protect the public - and we will take strong action against those drivers who shirk their responsibilities to assist the most vulnerable passengåers."

Charles Willie, CEO of The Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People and Chair of the Cardiff's Access Group, ,said: "It is vital that all hackney carriage drivers understand their duties and do not discriminate against disabled persons.

"We are very supportive of the action taken by the licensing authority and will be assisting in whatever way we can."

The Licensing Section will continue to work with Cardiff Council's Access Team to ensure that taxi drivers are up to date with knowledge, law and the correct treatment of people with disabilities.

Due to the disappointing level of compliance in this small operation further education initiatives and similar exercises are planned by licensing officers.

Source; http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Com ... 1&id=21838

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

In Dundee the chairman of the Hackney association thought it was ok for a wheelchair passenger to sit sideways in his tx , because he could not turn the wheelchair passenger.
This was when he was demonstrating to councillors that the tx was the only vehicle for taxing .

We had a consultation with the disabled group... many of them regular taxi users.... that travel with their wheelchairs facing sideways... it was pointed out to them they would not be able to travel this way in future.... and they are not very happy... the reason being that if they are placed in facing the rear, the stopping and starting motion creates pressure and pain.. but travelling sideways they are OK..... the politically correct brigade have basically condemn them from using taxes.. and restricted their ability to live a normal life.... serious discussions between the disabled groups and Sefton council are still ongoing..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

A driver in our town has a TX and they could not turn a wheelchair around to clamp it in properly until I showed her how to tip the seats up to make the room.

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Grandad,

There are lots of wheelchairs that will not turn round in a TX one.... just too big

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I agree with Mr T.

Gone are the days when wheelchairs were the simple skelenton design with thin wheels and fold up feet plates.

Most chairs nowadays resemble small 4 x 4's and wil simply not fit in a Vito, let alone a TX, nor can you secure them as the manufacturers require.

Some of these chair users need Patient Transport Ambulances with tail lifts, not common garden taxi's.

What's to discuss?

They either travel in the prescribed, correct manner, with the wheelchair in the correct position and correctly restrained OR THEY DON'T TRAVEL!!!

PERIOD!!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

If they are facing the rear or front in the prescribed manner and the brakes are applied suddenly with force a person can expect whiplash to some degree, but, if they are sitted sideways what is likely to be the damage caused to the neck and back then?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I carry lots of wheelchair passengers. They are regulars and know my policy which is:

Wheelchair passengers who will not or can not be properly secured will not under any circumstance be carried.

Occasionally I get a prospective wheelchair job at the rank - if they are securable I carry them - if not I don't.

If I refuse I give the prospective fare my badge and plate number as well as the contact number for the licensing office in case they wish to complain. So far not one has made a complaint. If a complaint is ever made, I will robustly defend my policy.

Toots is quite right - sitting forward or backward to the direction of travel, whiplash is a possibility - sitting sideways a broken neck is a real possibility. But, if stationary, the vehicle hit from the side may produce a similar effect. Unfortunately it comes down to a question of probability and the higher probability is that an accident involves the taxi being in motion up to the point of impact.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

There is an alternative, licence tail lifts as hackney's, where requested.

I used to be proud of being a taxi-driver.... working with the public... keeping a clean vehicle... and people showing their appreciation for the service that I gave... sometimes it would mean... going that little bit more.... I would never dream of looking for an excuse to leave a disabled person standard .. I would always find a way.... but then I was a professional hackney driver... which it would seem nowadays... are few and far between....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Who gets sued if a passenger in a wheelchair is transported incorrectly and is injured?

Who gets his licence suspended or revoked in a serious case of the above?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

please tell me who has as yet

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

What's wrong with doing the job in the prescribed manner?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I take it toot's you are making your comparison with your own knowledge of able body passengers... now let's say your passenger has no legs and a small torso ... d'you think it is the same for them...

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!