Wheelchair passengers 'illegally' transported by Coventry cabs, council data shows

[dutchman]

Wheelchair passengers are being ‘illegally’ transported by Coventry cabs, council data shows



Coventry City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee has found 22 taxi drivers in the city failed to transport disabled passengers safely and legally.

Now council chiefs are raising the alarm and have pledged to clamp down on malpractice.

Licensed hackney carriage drivers undergo training and assessments as part of the licensing requirements.

But checks by the council’s taxi licensing enforcement officers found some drivers are failing to follow correct procedures when transporting wheelchair passengers, putting them at risk of injury.

Taxi licensing enforcement officers made random checks on drivers to monitor whether they were adhering to their training, procedure and legislation.

Some drivers that have failed in their obligations to transport wheelchair passengers correctly have been issued written warnings including additional training, received suspension of their licenses or have had their licences revoked.

Checks will continue on licensed hackney carriage vehicles.