Taxi Driver Online

Disabled people across West Dorset are not protected when getting a taxi

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/163180 ... ng-a-taxi/

A lack of action over new rules for disabled taxi passengers by councils have left them vulnerable to being exploited by taxi firms, says a leading disability charity.

Research undertaken by Muscular Dystrophy UK has revealed that councils across West Dorset haven’t put measures in place when it comes to protecting disabled taxi passengers from being overcharged when getting a taxi.

West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council have admitted that they have not compiled Section 167 lists, which are needed to hold taxi drivers to account if they discriminate against disabled passengers.

This was despite a government-recommended deadline of October 2017 leaving disabled passengers vulnerable.

It comes after a change in the Equality Act in April last year came into effect, which means that taxi drivers face a fine of up to £1,000 if they refuse to transport wheelchair users or attempt to charge extra.

However, it emerged that this rule would only apply to vehicles listed on Section 167 lists, which councils create themselves.

The government recommends councils create these lists – but they are not mandatory.

Doug Paulley, co-author of the study, said: "This new research provides a mixed bag of results: while some councils have made an effort to create a list, many have fallen foul of the complex fine print in the rules, leaving most passengers unable to use the new legislation. Councils alone can’t unpick the confusion.

"We need to see a stronger lead from the Department for Transport if disabled people are to get the tools they need to challenge overcharging and unsafe practices."

At the same time, the charity also found that only 6 (8 per cent) of vehicles licensed by Weymouth and Portland and only 20 (11 per cent) of vehicles licensed by West Dorset District Council were wheelchair accessible.

A Department for Transport spokesman stressed that disabled people must have the same access to transport services that others take for granted.

They added: "It is unacceptable that a minority of taxi and private hire vehicle drivers continue to discriminate against wheelchair users."

However in response, a spokesman for the West Dorset District and Weymouth and Portland Borough Councils said: "Our councils are working on a new policy which will incorporate the Section 167 lists, it is due to come into operation in the autumn."

Similar articles have been cropping up for months in the local press - seems like Muscular Dystrophy UK going round the councils promoting their research via the papers.