Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association demands urgent review of points-based driver policy

The General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) has expressed deep concern over the repercussions faced by taxi drivers due to Transport for London's (TfL) stringent ‘six points and you're out’ driver policy.

Speaking at the Institute of Licensing (IoL) Conference in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Steve McNamara emphasised the need for an urgent review of the policy and greater consultation with the taxi trade.

The policy, which determines the consequences for taxi drivers receiving points on their DVLA driving licences, has resulted in drivers losing their taxi licences or facing the imminent threat of doing so. According to McNamara, even a single motoring offense can have severe consequences under new Transport for London (TfL) rules. The LTDA has witnessed a surge in cases of drivers facing this situation, leading their legal team to be busier than ever fighting for members' licences.

TfL were said to justify the implementation of the policy by citing the Government's Statutory Standards on Taxi and PHV (Private Hire Vehicles) licensing. However, the LTDA argues that these standards are based on the Institute of Licensing's Suitability Guidance for Licensing Taxi and PHV drivers, which were introduced without adequate consultation with the industry. McNamara claims that the trade only became aware of this guidance when authorities across the country began introducing what he describes as "draconian" new policies.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), said in TAXI Newspaper: “Last week, I spoke at the Institute of Licensing (IoL) Conference in Stratford- Upon-Avon. I was asked to talk about “the biggest single issue affecting our business”, so of course I talked about the devastation being wrecked on our members and their livelihoods, by the six points and you’re out driver policy.

“I explained how these new TfL rules on how taxi drivers, who receive points on their DVLA driving licence are treated, are resulting in drivers losing their licence or under threat of doing so, in some cases for a single motoring offence. We continue to be inundated with drivers, who find themselves in this situation and our legal team is busier than ever fighting for members’ licences.

“TfL has repeatedly told us that the new policy was introduced in response to the Government’s Statutory Standards on Taxi and PHV licensing, but those standards are in turn based on Suitability Guidance for Licensing Taxi and PHV drivers, which was first produced by the IoL.

“The IoL guidance issued in 2018 to help licensing officers and licensing authorities develop their policies was developed without consultation with the trade. In fact, no-one was really aware of it until the Government’s Statutory Standards came out and authorities around the country started introducing draconian new policies.

“We called for urgent review of this guidance when the IoL consulted on it and they are now undertaking that review, to look again at the points issue and thresholds for action to be taken against a driver, which are wrecking havoc on our members and the wider trade.

“At the conference, I emphasised how important this review is and how the taxi trade must be consulted and heard on the real-world impact of the policy to ensure any changes are effective and do not unfairly penalise drivers. After my talk, I spoke with a number of licensing bods, who assured me they were aware of the negative impact the policy is having and were looking to make changes, which would be the first step in reversing TfL’s policy changes. We will keep pushing on this issue."