New Standards Set To Improve Taxi Safety

New recommendations to increase the safety of passengers travelling by taxi or private hire vehicle have been published by Newark and Sherwood District Council, which is inviting members of the public to make comments on a new, draft version of its Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy.

In 2020, the Department of Transport released new statutory guidance to ensure consistent taxi and private hire vehicle standards throughout the country. Core minimum standards have been set out to further safeguard children and vulnerable adult passengers. The recommendations have been put together following detailed discussion between the trade, regulators and safety campaign groups and will be implemented after the four week consultation unless there is a compelling local reason not to.

The current Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy was implemented on 1 April 2018 and continues to be effective in ensuring that licence holders who do not take seriously the need to safeguard children and vulnerable persons or promote the need for public safety and public confidence in the trade are adequately dealt with.

The District Council has published a draft policy document and a consultation is now open until Wednesday 24 February at 5pm.

Councillor Rita Crowe, Chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s General Purposes Committee, said: “It’s important that standards are consistent between local authorities and these new regulations will help to do that as well as further supporting the safety of our residents while using any of our local taxi firms”.

More information about the consultation and the draft Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy can be viewed on the Newark and Sherwood District Council website.