News

Can wheelchair users get into your taxi or PHV?

Today is International Wheelchair Day, when users celebrate the positive difference a wheelchair makes to their lives.

But, despite changes and improvements, it is also a reminder of the difficulties they still face, including using taxis and PHVs.

As seen in our picture of John and Billy Paton introducing the first wheelchair-accessible FX4 Fairway in the late 1980s, modern black cabs are designed with disabled access in mind.

Should Private Hire Vehicles be allowed to use bus lanes?

As one authority moves towards letting private hire drivers use a bus lane on a busy route, we look at why they aren’t allowed to use them in the first place, and what happens to drivers who ignore the rules.

Access to bus lanes is decided by each local authority and it is usually only buses, public hire taxis, cyclists and motorcyclists can use them. Some are permanent bus lanes while others are only operational from set times, such as morning and evening rush hours, or throughout the day.

The changing face of the public-hire taxi driver

Becoming a London back cab driver was seen as the pinnacle of the profession, with taxi drivers proudly memorising thousands of routes around the capital before earning their coveted taxi badge.

Outside London, Hackney carriage drivers were also seen as the elite in the trade and public hire insurance allowed them to be hailed in the street or taxi rank. This set them apart from PHVs or minicabs, which could only be booked in advance under private hire insurance.

Potholes are still causing headaches for taxi drivers

Most potholes don’t look like much, but they can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to vehicles – and taxi drivers are among the record number of motorists left counting the cost.

A year ago, we looked at the misery being caused by potholes and, today, things appear to be worse. While cars are built to be safe and withstand high-speed impacts, it seems incredible that driving into a small hole in a road can cause so much damage.

Praise for taxi driver and couple who reunited woman, 95, with her family

Taxi drivers are no strangers to going above and beyond the call of duty. They are on the front line and see people at their best, as well as their worst.

We have previously mentioned a Telford taxi driver who rescued three young children left stranded on a railway platform as a train departed with their mother stuck on board. He was praised by police and the children’s grateful mum for keeping them safe and driving them home until they were reunited with family.

Taxi drivers get ready for new rules they protested against

Taxi drivers have hit out at new legislation that could cost them their licences for being late or wearing the wrong thing.

In a bid to improve safety and service, West Northamptonshire Council introduced the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy 2023, which comes into effect from April 1 and includes a penalty points system.