Taxi Driver's Code of Conduct - Consultation
Use of the Vehicle
- Private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriages are smoke free vehicles at all times under the Health Act 2006. It is a criminal offence to smoke in a private hire vehicle at any time (section 7) or to allow a person to smoke in a private hire vehicle (section 8) and you can be prosecuted for either or both offences. In addition, this will be regarded as a serious breach of the Code of Conduct.
- You must not eat in the vehicle at any time or allow passengers to eat in the vehicle at any time.
- Animals must not be carried in private hire vehicles or Hackney Carriages other than those belonging to or in the care of passengers. You may refuse to carry a hirer’s animal at your discretion. However, you must not refuse to carry an assistance dog, unless you have a valid Exemption Certificate issued by the Council. Any animal must be kept under the hirer’s control and must be carried in the rear of the vehicle (except assistance dogs). No animals can be carried in the luggage compartment of a vehicle unless the vehicle is an estate car or hatchback, and the animal can be seen from outside the vehicle through a window.
- You must not carry more passengers than the maximum number prescribed by the conditions attached to the Hackney Carriage your private hire vehicle licence and displayed on the vehicle plate.
- You must carry a reasonable amount of luggage and assist them in loading it and unloading it from the vehicle.
- You must not carry any additional passengers not already accompanying the hirer in the vehicle without the hirer’s permission.
- You must not carry more than one person in the front seat unless the vehicle is furnished with manufacturer fitted seats for more than one passenger in the front of the vehicle and provided with seat belts for all front seat passengers. In this case no more than 2 passengers may be carried.
- You must not carry any child below the age of ten years in the front of the vehicle.
- Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles are not expected to carry a range of child seats. If you are carrying children under the age of 14 you must make any adult with responsibility for the child aware that the correct restraints may not be available and the carriage of the child in those circumstances is at the adults own risk. Children under 3 years of age can travel unrestrained in a Hackney Carriage or private hire vehicle if the appropriate restraint is not available. Children over 3 years of age and below 11 years of age or shorter than 135cms (approx. 4ft 6in) can use adult seat belts if the appropriate restraint is not available. Children over 11 years of age or taller than 135cm (approx. 4ft 6in) must use adult seat belts.