Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Information
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Newport City Council has resolved that pursuant to Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010 it will maintain a list of licensed vehicles which are wheelchair accessible.
The list of those licensed vehicles which are currently wheel-chair accessible is available below or from the council offices.
View list of wheelchair accessible vehicles (pdf)
List of Designated Vehicles Pursuant to Section 165 Equality Act 2010
Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010 imposes duties upon the drivers of vehicles designated pursuant to Section 167 of the Act when dealing with disabled persons in wheelchairs or a person who wishes to be accompanied by a disabled person in a wheelchair. Those duties are set out in Section 165(4) as follows:
- to carry to passenger whilst in the wheelchair;
- not to make any additional charge for doing so;
- if the person chooses to sit in a passenger seat, to carry the wheelchair; to take such steps as are reasonably necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort; and
- to give the passenger such mobility assistance as is reasonably required.
Section 165(7) of the Act creates an offence where the driver of a designated taxi or private hire vehicle fails to comply with a duty imposed upon them under the section. This is punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding scale 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000).
Section 166 of the Act makes provision for licensing authorities to issue exemptions to drivers where they are satisfied it is appropriate to do so:
- On medical grounds; or
- On the ground that the person’s physical conditions makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the person to comply with those duties.
A driver will only be exempt therefore if an exemption certificate has been issued and notice of exemption issued by the council is exhibited within the vehicle in the prescribed manner.