Taxi Driver Online

Cabbie bans blind man from his taxi



A BLIND Man was refused entry to a taxi in Winsford because the driver said he was afraid of his guide dog.

Craig Acton, of Cleveland Way, was left standing on the kerb with his sister, Claire, after attempting to get in a licensed Hackney Carriage on Dene Drive on Wednesday, July 25.

Craig, 25, has had retinal pigmentosa since birth, and relies on black Labrador, Fred, to help him.

He explained: “We had been doing some shopping, and decided to get a taxi because it was a very hot day.

“I went to the rank and tried to get into a cab, but the taxi driver turned around and said ‘no dogs.’ “I told him that I was registered blind, and that he couldn’t legally refuse me access. He turned around again and said ‘no dogs’.

“I asked him whether he was sure, and he said yes.”

Claire read the taxi’s license details and the pair managed to get in another cab.

Craig later rang the taxi firm, GM travel, and was told the company would speak to the driver concerned.

Penny Williams, from the Guide Dogs charity, said: “It’s against the law. The driver said he was afraid of the dog, but that’s no excuse. It’s illegal under the disability act. It’s rather like refusing somebody access because they are in a wheelchair.

“Craig is very confident, but for some blind people it can make them feel very uncomfortable and embarrassed.”

Taxi drivers can only refuse access to guide dogs on medical grounds, using a yellow exception certificate, obtained from the licensing authority, which should be displayed in the cab’s front window.

Failures to comply with the law can incur fines of up to £1,000.

A Cheshire West and Chester council (CWAC) spokesman said: “Apparently the taxi driver concerned did not realise in the first instance that the man was blind. When he got out of his taxi to speak with the man and explain that he was frightened of dogs, they were already getting into another taxi.

“The council interviewed the driver and explained his duties under the Equality Act 2010 to him in great detail, and have reminded him of the training that he had received and passed when completing the Cheshire West and Chester Driver Qualification.

“The driver in question is genuinely very sorry for his actions and he has received an official written warning in line with the council’s protocol and enforcement policy.”

Guide Dogs and CWAC have agreed to have one of the charity’s dogs at training sessions in the future, to show taxi drivers how to deal with similar situations.

A spokesman for GM travel added: “The driver made a mistake and he’s sorry. He is new in the country and is afraid of dogs from his childhood. He is applying for an exemption certificate.”

Ms Williams said she hoped the incident would help illustrate the problems blind people sometimes still face.

“Fortunately, Craig was with his sister. Quite often these sort of things go unreported because people can’t see the number plate. It goes on a lot,” she said.

http://www.winsfordguardian.co.uk/news/ ... _his_taxi/

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

That says it all "He is new in the country"

And the punter told him he was legally blind

Driver's should be held to account for there legal and social obligations!

I've often wondered about this and why councils don't have braille numbers on the doors of cabs

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

Cherry picker,

Isn't it time things got leveled up, had that been me I would've had to go before the committee and beg to keep my job, but lets make every excuse under the sun for others eh,

Make no mistake I have no problem with immigrants who become cabbies, but I do with the ones who aren't suitable and here's why,


Cherry picking because they don't consider a short job worth it (I have evidence btw)

Going the wrong way due to lack of local knowledge

Overcharging and then playing the no understany card

Rude and unhelpful


Now there's just a few of the things I know go on (I have to listen to it daily and regular jobs have again been disappearing since new faces have arrived) even some of the immigrants are up in arms about it all, we have one who is straight into them when he knows a stroke is being pulled, another who was accused of racism for telling another one off for jumping the rank, it's like dealing with dishonest kids (wasn't me) and the fact they are now climbing up the noses of other immigrant drivers says a lot to me.

Should've stripped him of his badge on the spot.

Well that training worked then didn't it?

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IDFIMH

Hey look, we agree at last..............big smile.............big smile.

Clearly it was c*ap training, perhaps the licensing should be taking a closer look at their providers

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

Where was the driver from, and how do you CRB a newly arrived immigrant?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most