Report Urges UK Government to Modenise Taxi Rules

Changes intended to modernise rules around taxis and private hire vehicles urged in a report to the UK Government.

15:24 29 September 2018

A working group in the UK’s Department of Transport has publish a report calling for changes that aim to modernise rules around taxis and private hire vehicles, such as Uber. These include limiting the number of licenses for vehicles that can operate ride-hailing services in London and other UK cities as well as installing CCTV camera in each vehicle.

 

The report also made several recommendations that aim to improve customer safety and satisfaction. These include requiring drivers to speak and write in English and being able to deal with “emergency and other challenging situations.”

 

Although the group said that they support maintaining the current two-tier system that keeps a distinction between ‘plying for hire’ and ‘prebooking’, they admits that technological advancements has “blurred the distinction between the two trades” — and so suggests the introduction of a statutory definition of both.

 

“This definition should include reviewing the use of technology and vehicle ‘clustering’ as well as ensuring taxis retain the sole right to be hailed on streets or at ranks. Government should convene a panel of regulatory experts to explore and draft the definition,” it suggests.