Rear Loading WAV policy
RE: NTA Adopts Policy of No Rear Loading for Hackney Carriages
The National Taxi Association (NTA) represents taxi associations across the UK and has been in existence for many years.
At the 2005 Annual General Meeting, members endorsed a resolution to support the early day motion put down by Andrew Rossendale (a copy of which is attached). As you will see, the association is asking you to adopt a policy of refusing to license in the future, any hackney carriages which are adapted for disabled passengers, where the wheelchair user is loaded from the rear of the vehicle. The NTA sees this as a safety critical issue for both drivers and passengers and is concerned that despite previous letters on this subject being received by local authorities, many have chosen to ignore this issue and continue to license rear loading hackney carriages.
It is the rationale of the Disability Discrimination Act that disabled passengers should be able to hail the first available taxi, wherever they may be. This means loading would by no means be invariably from taxi ranks and hence the danger of loading from the rear makes the point we seek to bring home all the more trenchant.
We understand that vehicles adapted for private use or vehicles, generally private hire, utilising tail lifts will be rear loading. However, for hackney carriages operating from a side loading rank this is a completely different issue. There is a wide range of side loading accessible taxis available in the market place now such that it is simply not necessary to license rear loading vehicles.
As you will see from the enclosed letter from RoSPA and the content of the early day motion, concern over this issue is shared by a wide range of organisations especially those with knowledge of disabled passenger requirements such as the Spinal Injuries Association and RADAR.
Your confirmation that this letter has been received and that your council will take heed of the National Taxi Association policy would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Paul Brent
Paul Brent
Chairman
Radar Policy document for accessible taxis PDF
Spinal Injuries Association Taxi Charter 2009 PDF
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