Taxi Driver Online

Reading PHV drivers who refused to take blind passengers set for punishment

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... guide-dog/


Photo shows Mr Chawama, Council Licensing Officer, Mr Clive Wood with Winne the guide dog (middle) and Mrs Butler, Council Licensing Officer (Image: Reading Chronicle)

TWO TAXI drivers who refused to accept a fare by blind passengers are set to be reprimanded by the borough council.

A string operation involving a blind customer and a guide dog was carried out to test taxi drivers around the town.

It consisted of the blind person with a dog and a second sighted person asking for a journey from The Penta Hotel to Reading Station and back.

Of the five hackney carriage and five private hire vehicles tested, two private hire drivers refused to take the guide dogs as part of the fare.

Clive Wood, engagement officer for Guide Dogs Reading, said: "Guide Dogs are pleased to work in partnership with Reading Borough Council to raise awareness amongst the Reading taxi community on the legal requirement to allow guide dogs in their vehicles. There are still a significant number of guide dog owners being refused access to taxis across the UK and we welcome any initiative to stop this. We also know that there are many taxi drivers who provide a great service to blind and partially sighted people, including guide dog owners and we hope this will be the norm very soon.”

The council confirmed formal action will be taken against the two drivers who refused to take the fare.

Cllr Tony Page, deputy leader, added: "Both hackney carriage and private hire drivers have a responsibility to accept fares requested by blind passengers with guide dogs and I am pleased that eight out of the ten taxi drivers accepted the fares. Formal action will now be taken against the two private hire drivers who refused on the basis they would not carry the assistance dogs in their vehicles. All drivers should also be aware similar test purchases will take place in the future.”

The other eight drivers who were tested all accepted the fare.

Are there many such 'test purchase' operations, which normally seem to be targeting illegal plying for hire?



According to Google that's around half-a-mile, maybe a bit less.

Wonder if the result would have been different if it had been a £50 run?

Very rare in my experience.

I suspect no more than a dozen or so councils undertake these operations.

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IDFIMH

Maybe not, the Council probably phoned for a p/h car.