TfL urge taxi drivers to complete consultation which could see more passenger safety policies arrive

Taxi drivers have been contacted and urged to complete a Transport for London (TfL) consultation on proposals to implement new DfT's Statutory Standards, with the aim to improve safety for taxi and private hire passengers in London.

The proposed changes focus not on driver safety, but improvements to further safeguard passengers, especially children and vulnerable adults.

For Hackney Carriage licensees changes to the taxi driver licensing requirements including:

All licensed taxi drivers must pass a new safety, equality and regulatory understanding assessment

All taxi drivers must obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct to cover any periods of three or more continuous months they have spent outside the UK since they were 18 years old

All taxi drivers must register with the DBS Update service and we will carry out DBS checks every six months

The consultation is now open and closes on 12 May 2023.

The GMB union recently called the consultation a lost ‘golden opportunity’ for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers to contribute with their own experiences and concerns

The union says London’s PHV and taxi drivers are routinely the objects of verbal and physical abuse and theft, some of which can be brutal.

The union suggested that TfL should not be prioritising passenger safety before the driver’s safety and operators should not ignore their responsibility for drivers' health and safety.