Taxi Driver Online

The nearest this official council press release gets to detail is in the highlighted paragraph.

Apart from that, it's pretty bog standard for this kind of thing, and I can't be bothered looking into the detail.

Link to the consultation document at the bottom if anyone feels the need.


Consultation on proposed changes to East Suffolk taxi vehicle specification

https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/engageme ... cification

East Suffolk Council is inviting views on minor proposed changes to the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Specification, which helps ensure licensed vehicles are safe, suitable and meet the standards expected by passengers.

The proposed changes have been developed in consultation with the Council's appointed testing garages. They include updates to clarify existing requirements, align the specification with current legislation, provide greater flexibility in vehicle seating layouts, and introduce requirements relating to vehicle safety recalls.

Whether you are a licence holder, regular taxi or private hire user, or simply have an interest in local licensing standards, we would welcome your feedback. Your comments will help us understand the level of support for the proposals, identify any potential impacts, and consider whether any amendments are needed before the changes are considered by the Licensing Committee.

All comments received will be included in a report to the Licensing Committee in October 2026 and will form part of a public document. The consultation is open for six weeks and closes on 21 September 2026. Please send your comments to licensing@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.

https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/sites/de ... cument.pdf

I just love this condition.

f) Not less than 90% of luggage space provided in the vehicle to be available for passengers’ luggage.

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IDFIMH

I could see how that might be an issue - the amount of stuff some drivers have in their boot area

On the other hand, I probably have more than 10% of my boot space occupied at times with shopping etc - better to get that when I'm out and about and working rather than a specific 10-mile round trip to go to my nearest shop, surely??

And, in any case, my boot space is probably bigger than many/most cars anyway (and don't get me started on estates/hatchbacks/saloons and parcel shelves etc, which can hugely affect the official luggage volume figures), so I could maybe only have 80% available and have more space than other cars with 100% available

Anyway, I'll have to start taking my boot-space-volume-meter out - now doubt they're available in the dark and undiscovered recesses of Amazon (and I mean the website, not the rainforest)

And another intesting one recently is that there's no way I'd ever feel the need to idle the car so I could take advantage of the aircon in hot weather (apart from the fact it rarely gets 'hot' in east Fife on the North Sea coast).

But it's not unusual for me to get low battery warnings from the car after an hour or more on the rank, so I have to idle to engine for a few minutes. Which passers-by probably think is because I'm just one of those idle taxi driver idlers