Taxi Driver Online

Probe into why blind man and guide dog were refused a taxi

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched by licensing watchdogs into why two Scunthorpe taxi drivers refused a fare from a blind man and his guide dog after claiming they were allergic to the animal.

Under the law, cabbies who are allergic to dogs have to apply to North Lincolnshire Council for a medical exemption certificate and put it on display in their taxi.

Currently, none of the 600 licensed drivers in the region have such a certificate.

The complaint has been made by teacher David Sheridan, who visited Scunthorpe for the first time last month to attend a concert at the Baths Hall.

Father-of-two Mr Sheridan, 60, who has been totally blind for four years, travelled by rail from Birmingham with his golden retriever called Marley.

At Scunthorpe railway station, two of the four drivers on the rank told him they were allergic to dogs and a third cab drove off without a fare.

Mr Sheridan said: "One driver agreed to take me to the Royal Hotel, despite claiming he had a certificate for his allergy and was fearful of dogs.

"He asked me if the dog would go in the boot and actually opened the boot.

"Finally, Marley and myself settled in the front seat.

"I was upset by this incident and strongly believe I faced disability discrimination by these taxi drivers.

"I would hope this can be resolved. Maybe these drivers can put up notices in their taxis, either stating guide dogs are welcome or they cannot take the fare because of an allergy."

A spokeswoman for North Lincolnshire Council said: "If a taxi driver is allergic to dogs they have to contact the council to apply for a medical exemption certificate that should be displayed in their vehicle.

"This allows the taxi driver to refuse to take assistance dogs in their vehicle because of their allergy. There are currently no taxis in North Lincolnshire that have an exemption certificate.

"We have recently received a complaint regarding taxi drivers refusing to accept assistance dogs in their vehicle.

"The council is taking this complaint very seriously and investigating the problem. Appropriate enforcement action will be carried out."

Kuljinder Juj, the chairman of the Scunthorpe Taxi Association, said: "To refuse a fare to a blind man and his guide dog is totally unacceptable.

"The problem is that the local licensing department is unable to police the trade properly due to a lack of resources. As a result the travelling public and the decent operators are suffering."


Read more: http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/Probe ... z2TfssRW8p

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

There must be one of these incidents somewhere in the UK every week !!!!!!

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

How would they expect a blind man to be able to read such exemptions?

How would the driver be able to read it also. :

If any Asian wants a job as a driver, they must pass the hug a dog test, no hug no licence

good job getting that one introduced by licensing !!!!

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I assume that Mr Sheridan must have had a helper with him also. The reasoning for this is that because this was his first visit to the area the guide dog alone would be of no use whatsoever because guide dogs need to know where they are going which requires training. You can't just get off a train or bus and tell the dog to take you to the nearest taxi rank or take me to the Baths hall. It doesn't work like that.

_________________
Grandad,

I'm not so sure about that there is no mention of a helper and he asked the taxi to take him to his hotel suggesting the visit had all been planned out and the taxi was the link between the two places

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

i had hasle when i need to move my billy to mate house while i holiday drivers say no

meet billy

_________________
IDFIMH

I think someone invented Braille.

Can't think of the fella's name.

_________________
IDFIMH

Not just a certain section of the trade, but I think we should all hug a dog as part of the knowledge test.

But then again I suspect most of us spent most of our early adult life doing just that.

_________________
IDFIMH

Simple method of sorting this out, ban the drivers for a year for discrimination of fine them heavily. Job done. Lets face facts some of these guide dogs are better trained than drivers.

_________________
Live life with a smile

And a nicely filled bacon butty

At least guide dogs know where they are going!

That's easier said than done it depends if the council is willing to risk a large legal bill for the subsequent legal cases for discrimination which will follow as surely as night follows day.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector