Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

On 6 April 2017 section 165 and section 167 of the Equality Act 2010 came into effect. 

Section 165 imposes a legal duty on a driver of a designated Licensed vehicle. This is for either:

• If the vehicle hire is by or for a disabled person in a wheelchair, or
• By another person who wishes to have a disabled person in a wheelchair on the journey.

The key components of Section 165 are summarised below:

• Hackney carriage/private hire drivers must carry the passenger while in the wheelchair
• Hackney carriage/private hire drivers cannot charge wheelchair-users an extra fare
• Hackney carriage/private hire drivers must carry the passenger’s wheelchair. This is regardless of whether the wheelchair–user sits in a passenger seat.
• Hackney carriage/private hire drivers should ensure that the passenger is safe/comfortable.
• Hackney carriage/private hire drivers must provide reasonable aid. This is for in relation to mobility-assistance for the disabled passenger.
• Hackney carriage/private hire drivers cannot refuse hires from wheelchair users

Mobility assistance is:

• To enable the passenger to get into or out of the vehicle
• If the passenger wants to remain in their wheelchair, allowing access to the vehicle. You must do this by allowing the passenger to get into/out of your vehicle whilst in their wheelchair.
• To load the passenger's luggage into or out of the vehicle
• If the passenger doesn't wish to remain in the wheelchair, to load the wheelchair into or out of the vehicle

Section 167 allows local authorities to maintain a list of wheelchair-accessible licensed vehicles.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles