Passengers with special needs

As a professional driver you should always be there to give help when it’s needed, especially when your passenger has special needs.

Whatever vehicle you drive, be ready to help when an older passenger, or one who has limited mobility, is getting into or out of your vehicle.

Some vehicles, especially black cabs, are fitted with special equipment to allow easy access for those who may otherwise find it difficult. If you have this equipment, make full use of it to improve your passenger’s comfort.

Special fittings can include

• an intermediate step
• a swivel seat
• a ramp and wheelchair fittings.

Intermediate step

It can be difficult for people with limited mobility to get into or out of some vehicles, including black cabs.

This can be because of the position of the seats and the greater distance between the floor of the vehicle and the street or pavement.

Assess your passenger’s needs, and if you think it might help, offer to provide the additional step for them as they get into or out of the taxi. Follow this procedure

• Remove the step from the stowage compartment.
• Make sure the door is fully open and secured.
• Fit the step and make sure it’s securely fixed before your passenger steps onto it.
• Once they’re safely in, close the door and stow the step.

Swivel seat

A person with limited mobility might also find the swivel seat helpful. Often this will need to be used with the intermediate step. As the passenger gets into your vehicle, you should

• make sure the door is fully opened and secured
• pull down the seat and swing it outwards until it’s locked
• help the person onto the seat if necessary
• swivel the seat back into the travelling position until it’s locked
• offer to help secure the seat belt before closing the door.

Reverse the process when you reach the end of the journey.

Ramp and wheelchair fittings

If you have the facility to carry wheelchairs, you must make sure that the wheelchair is correctly loaded and secure.

To safely load a passenger in a wheelchair you should

• prepare for your passenger. Fit the wheelchair restraint and make space available for the wheelchair. Make sure the door is fully opened and secured. Pull out the ramp and add an extension if necessary
• gently push the wheelchair and its user into the vehicle and stow the ramp. If you need to let go of the wheelchair to stow the ramp, make sure you apply the wheelchair brakes
• position the wheelchair so that it can be secured using the equipment provided by the vehicle manufacturer
• make sure that all straps and belts that secure the wheelchair and its user are fastened according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• close the door.

To unload the wheelchair at the end of the journey, you should

• open the door fully and secure it
• release the restraining straps and belts
• pull out the ramp and fit the extension if it’s needed. If you need to move the wheelchair to do this, make sure you apply the brakes before letting go of the wheelchair
• wheel out the wheelchair. Walk backwards for the safety of your passenger and so that you can retain full control
• remove the ramp and stow any equipment in the appropriate place
• close the door.

Drivers of taxis designated by the local licensing authority as being wheelchair accessible must comply with the requirements of Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, unless they have been issued with an exemption certificate. The Act requires the drivers of those vehicles to carry passengers in wheelchairs and provide assistance to those passengers, and it prohibits them from charging extra for doing so.