Skip to content

Click here to read our latest update

National Association of Women's Clubs logo
  • Home
  • About
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Meet The Team
  • Campaigns
  • Clubs
  • Join Us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact
  • 0
National Association of Women's Clubs logo
  • Home
  • About
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Meet The Team
  • Campaigns
  • Clubs
  • Join Us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact
  • 0
  • Back to Campaigns

Taxi and minicab drivers must carry assistance dogs

“This Association in Conference here assembled urges Her Majesty’s Government to ensure all taxi and minicab drivers are aware that they must carry assistance dogs unless they have an exemption certificate.”

East Herts Association,

2017

We feel something must be done to help someone needing a taxi that has an assistance guide dog.  The very nature of the dogs is that he or she will behave themselves.  Sean Dilley writing in the Guardian stated he and his guide dog were turned away 30 times by a taxi firm.

There are many instances when assistance dogs are refused the use of taxis, however this resolution is primarily concerned with guide dogs for the blind.

As an example of how this can feel to a blind person:

A blind young woman is looking forward to a day out.  She has just been given a guide dog. She has spent time with him and he has responded to her commands.  He has been trained to be her eyes.  Today is the day they will be out together for the first time and she is meeting her mother in the town centre.  She has phoned for a taxi and waits outside the front door.  The taxi driver has a new car, his pride and joy, and when he sees the young lady waiting for him drives off and leaves her.  The only way she knows he has been there is when she hears the engine slow and then the car accelerate.  She has to re-enter the house and phone the company again.    She does not complain but has been let down for this wonderful day out.

She is not alone, according to statistics unfortunately 42% of assistance was turned away by a taxi or mini cab in the last year because of their dog.  Drivers need to understand the difficult lives some people have to endure and how they could play such a part in helping to achieve a successful life.  Imagine if you are blind and rely on your dog to help with everyday life, such as shopping, going to a support group or just to visit a family member who is ill and you phone for a taxi.  You explain that you are blind but omit to say that you have a dog.

For another instance: You are waiting with a friend who hails a roving taxi for you; one starts to pull up but seeing the guide dog accelerates away.

Taxi firms are licensed by local authorities who give them a number of instructions as to what they must or must not do. Another local council took action against a firm who receiving a booking agreed to attend but when told there would be a guide dog said there were no available taxis.  The firm pleaded guilty and was fined £900, which included costs.  They will in future take notice of their commitment to help those who need the assistance dog to help in their everyday life.

Unfortunately, some taxi firms do not have a telephone number to call.  They might not regard a physical conversation to be 21st century but it would help a blind customer to be able to speak to someone when incidents occur.  Although I have given instances of Blind Taxi troubles, these problems also apply to Deaf and other disabilities that people endure who need help from assistance dogs.

We urge the Government to intervene to make sure that no one is left behind because of having an assistance guide dog.

Reply from:-The Rt. Hon. John HAYES CBE MP – Minister of State
Thank you for your letter to Chris Grayling about assistance dogs in Taxis and Minicabs.  I am replying as Minister responsible for this issue.

The Government is committed to building transport networks that work for all, including ensuring that disabled people have the same access to transport services as other members of society.   I know that guide and assistance dogs can be vital for many peoples access to transport, and that refusal to carry them can seriously inhibit their owners’ ability to live independently.

To be clear Government expects all transport operators and authorities, including the drivers of Taxis and private hire vehicles, to play their part in ensuring that nobody is excluded from services on account of being disabled.

I understand how distressing the refusal of assistance dogs can be for their owners, whether in a shop, restaurant, taxi or private hire vehicle.  Not only can it be inconvenient, it puts at risk the confidence that disabled people have in their ability to go about their lives with dignity.

As you are aware, the Equality Act 2010 already makes it a criminal offence to refuse the carriage of an assistance dog or to charge extra for doing so.  It is unacceptable that drivers without medical exemption certificates continue to refuse assistance dogs and I strongly encourage licensing authorities to take robust action against those willing to comply.  Courts already have powers to impose fines up to £1000.  TFL alone have successfully prosecuted 21 minicab drivers since 2015, with fines imposed totalling £7,055.

We plan to consult on revised best practice guidance for local authorities, which will include strengthened recommendations relating to the provision of an accessible taxi and PHV service.

In the meantime, please be assured of Government’s interest in this issue, and its commitment to see the barriers that still inhibit some people’s ability to travel, challenged and overcome.

National Association of Women's Clubs logo white

Quick Links

  • Home
  • History
  • Shop
  • Join Us
  • News

INFORMATION

  • What We Do
  • Clubs
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

get In Touch

  • The Army Reserve Centre, 312 London Road, Romford, Essex RM7 9NH
  • 07701 394320
  • nawc@btconnect.com
  • Follow Us

© 2022 NAWC. All Rights Reserved | Charity No. 273397 | Website by Space Five

This website uses cookies to improve your experience and provide statistics on site use. Find out moreACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview


This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT

March 2022 Update

To all clubs,

We have been asked by some clubs if we are going to do anything to help in the relief of the Ukraine refugees, we are going to suggest that rather than clubs doing any fundraising and sending it into the office it would be more efficient if clubs did their own thing and sent it to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) and then let Head Office know how much they contributed and we would gather the information together and see in total how much our clubs have sent.

The DEC is made up of 15 charities including The Red Cross, Save the Children and Oxfam. All of these charities are well known to us and right now they need our help.

Our club members have always been very generous with their time and efforts for many charities but we think on this occasion we should all work together once more as we did for the victims of the earthquake in Nepal.

Heavy fighting, shelling and air strikes across the country have had devastating consequences for ordinary people. Homes have been destroyed. Families have been separated. Lives have been lost.

At Ukraine’s borders with Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova, huge numbers of people are arriving with only what they can carry.

DEC charities and their local partners are in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance.

Please don’t think you should wait until you have a goodly amount before you donate, funds are needed now so just keep donating. Let the National Association of Women’s Clubs do what they are good at: helping others. 

Thanking you in anticipation of your help

Chris and the Committee