Authorities should suspend pending private hire air quality and CCTV requirements says LPHCA survey

More than 9 in 10 private hire drivers are urging local authorities to suspend pending air quality requirements following the effects of COVID-19 on the industry.

In a recent members survey conducted by the Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA), 90.9% supported the idea to suspend future plans around air quality and moves towards greener vehicles until after the coronavirus outbreak.

Like the taxi trade, the private hire industry has faced a sharp decrease in work volumes since lockdown measures were announced in March. Feedback from the survey published in Private Hire News showed drivers facing concerns around higher vehicle costs, lack of current income and insufficient choice of vehicles.

Survey results published in Private Hire News

The in-depth LPHCA survey also touched on another hot industry topic; CCTV. Nearly three quarters of those surveyed thought regulatory authorities should suspend all pending CCTV requirements. Members of the association were unsure about the mandatory need for the in-vehicle cameras. There were also concerns about the high cost of the equipment and the control of data captured.

Steve Wright, Chairman of Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA), said: “The pandemic has been catastrophic for those who have lost loved ones or those who have contracted or been impacted indirectly by the COVID-19 virus, on a personal / family level. Beyond that there are many whose working lives will never be the same.

“Whilst some modes of transport have had high level support from government, the door-to-door taxi and private hire sector, at times all but seems to have been forgotten.

“Two controversial pre-pandemic subjects, CCTV and Air Quality requirements were in some cases being mandated at different levels in different stages by governments and licensing authorities throughout the UK.

“Sensible authorities are now reviewing both, what is really needed as well as practical, they have also put on hold inflicting massive costs when the trade is on its knees. The LPHCA members survey clearly outlines the need to suspend such projects, then conduct a review and re-assessment post COVID-19.”