TAXI REFORM CAMPAIGN - NATIONWIDE CONSULTATION

Why did we ask?

 
Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles are a vital and integral part of the transport network in the UK with:

• an estimated 600 million journeys in Great Britain each year
• most commonly used by younger people, those on lower incomes without access to cars, and women between the ages of 16 and 20
• an estimated 69,000 taxis licensed in England in 2007*
• over 264,000 individuals hold drivers licences issued by local licensing authorities in England and Wales*

*source – Department for Transport

The licensing of hackney carriages in particular dates back to 1847, and that for private hire vehicles to 1976.  Seventeen principal Acts of Parliament, eight statutory instruments, and over 150 court decisions regulate these activities.

The Institute of Licensing has recently undertaken  a substantial nationwide consultation to find out how the existing law is working for different users including drivers, operators, customers and regulators.

The overall aim was to establish if there is a need for reform of this legislation outside London, to make it fit for purpose for the 21st century. 
 
There were many reasons for embarking on this exercise, principally:

• eliminating inconsistencies between licensing authorities in the application of outdated legislation
• removing outdated practices and controls  which stifle economic development and competition
• enhancing public protection and safety by virtue of a simplified system of regulation
• promoting the environmental impact of sustainable transport
• recognising and embedding licensed vehicles as part of the national public transport infrastructure
• reducing the administrative burden on licence holders and licensing authorities
• providing a better structured and more understandable framework