DFT: New statutory taxi and private hire standards should cost each driver an extra £62.24 per year

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New Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards brought in should cost drivers an extra £62.24 per year, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

In the new Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards released in July 2020, local authorities will be expected to implement new rules designed to improve consistency in the licensing system, reducing the risk of harm posed to children and vulnerable passengers in the process.

Criminal record checks for drivers every 6 months form a key part of the standards, as does safeguarding training to help drivers identify and respond to passengers that may be being abused or exploited. A recommendation for licensing authorities to consider whether the use of CCTV would be beneficial or proportionate in their areas is also included, which sets out that potential privacy issues must be taken into account.

Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, asked Grant Shapps via a written question: “What assessment his Department has made of the need to ease the potential additional financial burden on the private hire and taxi industry resulting from new industry standards.”

Rachel Maclean, DfT Minister, responded saying: “A full impact assessment was published alongside the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards in July 2020.

“This found that if the full cost of the Standards was passed on to drivers, the increased cost would be £62.24 per driver per year which would equate to a three pence increase per fare.”