TAXI VISIBILITY: Final guidance on taxi and PHV signage ‘currently being analysed’ by Government

Discussions around the future of taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) signage is ‘currently being analysed’ with the Government’s response to be published in ‘due course’.

The comments come as the Department for Transport (DfT) earlier this year released a raft of new recommendations as part of new Best Practice Guidance issued for Taxis and PHVs in England. Within the proposed guidance, a revamp of taxi and PHV signage was suggested to help the public better identify taxis.

There has been ongoing discussions throughout the industry whether PHVs need to be distinctive giving the nature how they are booked. It is argued that without any form of signage, the public are less likely to approach vehicles looking for an immediate hail, which a only Hackney Carriage taxis can accept. All minicab journeys must be pre-booked via an operator who then pass on the vehicle’s registration details for passengers to identify the car on arrival.

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, asked the Sectretary of State for Transport what assessment the DfT has made of the potential effect of the removal of vehicle or operator taxi signage based on the trends of unlicensed taxi operators currently active on UK streets.

Lucy Frazier, DfT Minister of State, responded: “All taxis and private hire vehicles must be licensed to operate legally. The Government expects licensing authorities to undertake appropriate compliance and enforcement activity to deter illegal plying for hire by unlicensed drivers, and to raise public awareness of the risk of using unlicensed, uninsured and unvetted drivers and vehicles.

“The Government recently consulted on revised Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England which included proposals on vehicle signage.

“The responses to this consultation are currently being analysed. The Government’s response to this consultation will be published in due course, along with the final version of the guidance.”