Taxi and private hire services
| Publisher: | Department for Transport |
| Status: | Closed |
| Type: | Cross-government consultation |
| Published date: | 10 May 2012 |
| Closing date: | 10 September 2012 |
| Mode/topic: | Roads |
The Law Commission published a consultation paper with provisional proposals for reform of the legal framework relating to taxis and private hire vehicles on 10 May 2012.
These proposals retain the important distinction between taxis – which can ‘ply for hire’ on the street or a cab rank – and private hire vehicles which can only be pre-booked.
But all vehicles would be subject to national minimum safety standards and, for private hire vehicles, these would replace more than 340 sets of local regulations. This will reduce the burden on business because, once appropriately licensed, a private hire firm could work freely across the country, without geographical restrictions. This would contribute to widening consumer choice and to making services cheaper and more competitive.
The Law Commission also make suggestions covering a wide range of issues, including improving provision for persons with disabilities, quantity restrictions and enforcement.
