Advice for hackney carriage and private hire drivers and operators about the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
New legislation from 4 December 2006 requires that a disabled person has the right to be treated fairly and that reasonable adjustments must be made to accommodate passengers who have a disability.
Your Legal Duties
Taxi and private hire drivers and operators have a legal duty to take all reasonable steps, as far as possible, in order to make their services accessible to people with disabilities.
Therefore, as far as is reasonably practicable to do so, you must transport people with a disability. Guide dogs and assistance dogs must normally be taken at all times.
Exceptions
There are of course exceptional circumstances when it may not be reasonable to transport an individual.
For example, a driver who has claimed exemption from the council for carrying assistance dogs due to an allergy or other medical condition, or when the technical specification of a wheelchair and vehicle are incompatible.
Eastbourne Borough Council is keen for all of the taxi and private hire trade to try to accommodate all passengers wherever possible, and continue to maintain the high standard of service offered by the trade.
