Transport for London Press release.

PN-286

29 September 2015

TfL launches new consultation to modernise private hire regulations

·       Initial consultation, earlier this year, received almost four thousand responses from trades, customers and stakeholders

·       Secondary consultation contains proposals for discussion in relation to an English language requirement for drivers, stricter controls on insurance and tighter controls on private hire bookings

·       New taxi and private hire strategy also published, outlining TfL’s vision for the wider industry as a whole

Transport for London (TfL) will tomorrow launch a secondary public consultation on potential changes to the regulations that govern the Capital’s private hire trade.  This follows an initial consultation which ended in June and received almost 4,000 responses from customers, stakeholders and the trades.

Following a detailed analysis of the responses to the initial consultation and meetings with trade representatives, a number of detailed suggestions have been drafted for consideration with the aim of helping TfL to better regulate the 21^st century private hire trade. 

These include proposals to improve driver skills, including English language capabilities and stricter requirements for insurance, as well as proposals around the way private hire operators can accept bookings and changes to how bookings are recorded.  In addition a tough topographic exam to test driver navigational skills will also be introduced. 

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport, said: “We are launching a public consultation in order to inform and improve the regulations that govern the Capital’s private hire trade.  In recent years the private hire industry has grown exponentially and technology has also developed rapidly.  The consultation sets out a number of ways that standards across the industry could be raised, ensuring Londoners can continue to benefit  from the service provided by licensed private hire vehicles.  No final decisions have been made and we’re keen to hear a range of views from the trade and from Londoners too.” 

Alongside the consultation, TfL has also published a vision for the future of the taxi and private hire trade as a whole, setting the proposed changes to private hire regulations in the wider context of developments in the entire industry. 

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and close on 23 December 2015.

Ends