Taxi Driver Online

Ooft - talk about official buck-passing and blame-shifting

Not something I'll ever have to deal with, but if I was a WAV driver I would refuse to do certain work if the council are just going to say that it's the fault of the driver because it's 'compulsory' on him to seek out additional training

And the kneejerk suspension of the driver as well - I'm sure he could have worked in the interim without representing any kind of huge threat


Chorley taxi boss calls on council to close 'very dangerous training gap" after driver is suspended

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/chorley-taxi ... ly-5385164

Shaz Malik, owner of Four Sixes taxi company, founder of Chorley Taxi Association and board member of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA), represented a local driver at a licensing hearing at Chorley Town Hall, whose passenger narrowly avoided serious injury.

What happened?

While attempting to ascend a ramp into the taxi, the electric wheelchair fell backwards. The driver was present and managed to intervene, but following a hearing at Chorley Town Hall on October 22, he was suspended until further training is completed.

While Mr Malik deemed this a “a fair and balanced decision after consideration of all the evidence”, he called on Chorley Borough Council to offer training on electric wheelchairs like they do for manual chairs. He said it was a “very dangerous training gap” and a “critical omission that must be addressed as a matter of urgency”, especially as, under the Equality Act 2010, service providers must not unlawfully discriminate against passengers who use wheelchairs.

But Chorley Council say the onus is on drivers to seek out additional training and take personal responsibility for maintaining safe and inclusive practices.

Mr Malik said: “This incident has exposed a serious gap in policy and training. Drivers currently receive guidance on transporting manual wheelchairs, but there is no specific training on safely loading and securing electric wheelchairs and what vehicle type of vehicle can take electric wheelchairs. This is a critical omission that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

He said that electric chairs with a user can weigh up to 200kg and “pose a huge risk to anyone trying to hold them”. He added: “This is now a national safety issue. Training frameworks must be revised immediately to include electric wheelchair handling. Had the driver in this case not been represented correctly, there is no doubt that the outcome could have been serious for the driver, representation is key.”


Shaz Malik and David Lawrie, director of the NPHTA (Image: LEP)

Within 24 hours of the hearing, David Lawrie, Director of the NPHTA had been in contact with Diamond Driver training, who among other courses, provides the national wheelchair training programme, to ensure that they incorporate electric wheelchair transport into their training modules. He has also raised the issue directly with various other national stakeholders as part of the current scheme, urging them to update and improve disability transport within all public transport services.

What does Chorley Council say?

Councillor Alex Hilton, Executive Member for Planning and Development, which also covers Licensing, at Chorley Council, said: “The council accredits three providers of wheelchair training, and it is our policy that any person who drives a wheelchair accessible vehicle must complete appropriate training. While it is not achievable to train every driver on every individual wheelchair model, the accredited training covers essential principles such as ensuring no wheelchair is ever left unsecured within a vehicle. We expect all drivers to take personal responsibility for maintaining safe and inclusive practices. Where additional training is needed to meet these standards, it is compulsory on the driver to seek it out. This is not optional, it’s part of delivering a safe and respectful service to our residents.

“We remain committed to maintaining high standards, and where a driver falls short, we will take appropriate enforcement action. In response to Mr Malik’s comments, we would like to clarify that the council provides access to accredited training and sets clear expectations. It is essential that all drivers meet these standards.”

Do not pay extra

Mr Malik is also keen that taxi customers know that drivers cannot charge extra for helping a wheelchair user into or out of a vehicle, or for securing the wheelchair. Under Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, this is a criminal offence. The meter should only start after the wheelchair is safely secured. Any extra charge is unlawful and may lead to council action or prosecution. If you are charged extra, report it to the council immediately.

Even ignoring wheelchairs, what other aspect of the job does this principle extend to?

Reminds me of the North Wales coroner

No way would I risk taking one of those huge/heavy electric things.

I have a massive amount of sympathy for those poor folks who use those things and need the services of taxis, so in my view, the council should be praising drivers who do those jobs and owner drivers who fund those crazy expensive vehicles, but this council chooses to penalise a driver who has allegedly made a mistake.

As if a councillor or council official has never made one themselves.

As for the suspension until the driver has passed some kind of test, that's merely the council being cruel. If they were concerned, rather than being so vindictive to the driver, they could have merely said that until that test was passed you can only drive saloons, or not undertake any WAV work.

That's what a reasonable council would have done, but this one takes the spiteful route instead. Shame on them.

_________________
IDFIMH

Nobody has to take an electric wheelchair.

It's nice if you do, but you don't have to.

Check out the DofT position on this. You only have to take a standard Manual Wheelchair.

You MUST take a Standard Manual Wheelchair.

A Local Authority CANNOT impose this on Drivers by Bylaw for Hackney or by Conditions on PH, as it would fly in the face of Law.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

Unlike the Chorley Council blame-shifting response above, there's no response at all quoted here from Bolton Council.

Which is unusual in itself for an article like this, but maybe it's because they know it's a sticky wicket, and they probably know the Chorley response was a bit off, to say the least.

Either that or if it is a genuinely new piece done over the last few days, then chances are that the council PR bods will still be on holiday for another several days, thus no quote from them

And another two of almost the same photo above for the price of one


Chorley taxi boss calls for 'proper protection' in Bolton

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25 ... on-bolton/


Image: The Bolton News

A taxi boss says “drivers need proper training and passengers need proper protection” when using electric wheelchairs.

Shaz Malik, the driving force behind the Chorley Taxi Association and boss of 4Sixes taxis says he was disturbed by an incident in his hometown.

Mr Malik says that while loading an electric wheelchair, the chair tipped backwards on a ramp and only the driver’s quick action of the driver prevented a major head injury.

He said: “Although this incident took place in Chorley, the same risks exist in Bolton.

“Drivers are trained to handle manual wheelchairs, but there is no specific training for electric wheelchairs, which can weigh 100 to 200kg.

“Without the right equipment, vehicles, and training, these situations are dangerous.

“Bolton must now review its policies and training requirements urgently.”

Mr Malik has long been a well-known figure through his work with the CTA and has frequently spoken out about issues affecting the safety of both taxi drivers and passengers.

The 4Sixes boss has also run a range of schemes aimed at improving public safety in both Bolton and Chorley over recent years.

He has previously worked with the University of Lancashire, formerly Central Lancashire, to help run a passenger safety survey and hopes to see a similar survey carried out for drivers.

Mr Malik, who sits as both chair of Chorley Taxi Association and a board member of the National Private Hire Taxi Association, says he plans to research these issues more deeply.

He says ambulance and patient transport staff are trained never to try to physically stop a falling electric wheelchair, because of the extreme risk to both crew and patient.

He says prevention is the only safe strategy, wheelchairs must be secured correctly, in the right type of vehicle, every time.

Mr Malik said: “This is not just a Chorley issue; it’s a national safety issue.

“Bolton Council and the local trade must learn from what happened here.

“Representation and correct training are key, because in every case there’s your side, their side, and the real side.

“The real side is simple, drivers need proper training, and passengers need proper protection.”


Image: The Bolton News