Taxi Driver Online

As long as the wheelchair is not in side ways, is there any laid down rule as to whether the punter faces backwards or forwards, I don't see it makes a difference, if you have a rear loading vehicle then it would be a problem turning them around to face backwards and then turning them again to unload backwards.

It would depend upon seat belts. If the passenger is facing forwards then they must be secured in the wheelchair by a vehicle seat belt. If they are facing backwards, they probably don't require a seat belt.

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Grandad,

It depends on the Taxi.

ALL wheelchair users must be strapped in and their chairs secured using the ratchet straps in London Taxis.

All chair users travel facing towards the rear, if you don't and they get injured, you are leaving yourself wide open for a claim.

Doesn't that depend on the vehicle and the straps? In my vehicle the passenger is loaded from the back and faces forward. The chair is secured to the tracking fitted in the floor by straps. the passenger is then secured by a seat belt around the waist and another over the shoulder going diagonally to the lap belt therfore becoming a 3 point seatbelt.

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Grandad,

They should be secured according to the manufacturer's instructions. This varies from one vehicle to the next.

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Rear loading Taxis are not licensed in London, hence my reference to London taxis. ALL London taxis carry wheelchairs facing towards the rear.

Mine is private hire.

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Grandad,

Wheelchair should be positioned and tied-down as per the manufacturer's instructions and this depends on the positioning of the wheelchair restraints and tie-downs.

But my Renault Voyager NX8 Hackney Vehicle is very flexible and a wheelchair passenger can be correctly restrained either in the forward or rearward facing position as the restraining straps are fitted into the running rails in the floor, but are fully removeable after use.

This system also allows for two wheelchairs to be carried symultaneously [that's at the same time to you Mr Skippy41], if you have a second set of retaining and tie-down straps. But they are an extra cost and I didn't bother having a second set.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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I raised the question of wheelchairs being strapped in recently, and was under the impression that all had to be strapped in regardless of whether the passenger wanted to be or not. Under the disability act/safety I would not have thought that it would differentiate between P.H and Hacks as the paramount issue would be safety for the passenger.

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