What did you learn from TfL’s free new taxi and PHV driver Safeguarding Awareness training?

London’s Taxi and Private Hire drivers are being urged to complete free online Safeguarding Awareness training at the ‘earliest opportunity’ to help protect some of the community’s most vulnerable people.

The Transport for London (TfL) online course follows the Department for Transport’s (DfT) published Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards in July 2020. As part of the standards one requirement recommended that all licensing authorities should provide safeguarding guidance to the sector and should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training.

According to the TfL website everyone in society has a responsibility to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from harm and abuse. Taxi and PH licensees, particularly licensed drivers, and individuals working for PH operators and taxi booking platforms are seen to be in a unique position to identify and help take steps to prevent the abuse, exploitation or neglect of children and vulnerable adults.

It is hoped that by understanding the early warning signs and knowing what to do when there are concerns that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk, taxi and PH licensees can play a significant role in preventing harm and abuse.

In line with the DfT's Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, TfL have developed a free Safeguarding Awareness course for taxi and PH drivers and all other licensees.

It is expected that all licensees will undertake the Safeguarding Awareness course at the ‘earliest opportunity’. The capital’s transport regulators are also encouraging staff working for PHV operators and taxi booking platforms to undertake this training too.

Applicants for a new or renewal PHV driver licences are strongly recommended to undertake the Safeguarding awareness course prior to sitting the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding requirement assessment, which has been mandatory for all drivers since 1 October 2021.

The course is free to access and can be completed on a laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile.

Those taking part in the online course will not receive a certificate and they do not need to inform TfL that they have completed the course.

TaxiPoint’s Founder, Perry Richardson, who is also a full-time London taxi driver, completed the course. Richardson said: “The online course consisted of 27 easy to follow slides. Whilst most cabbies may feel like they develop a sixth sense when something isn’t quite right with a passenger, this course reinforces some of those warning signs and clarifies when and how to report those concerns.

“It takes roughly 10 minutes to complete and if you take just one thing away from the course that helps someone in the future, that can only be a good thing.”

Anyone wishing to complete the training an access the Safeguarding Awareness training here or below: