Tuesday 21 April 2015
In February, the Environment Department announced that as one of its Integrated Transport Strategy initiatives it was inviting applications for the issuing of a new category of taxi licence for vehicles specifically designed or adapted for people with a disability.
At present less than 5% of all licensed taxis in Guernsey have any form of specialist disability access and plate holders are not currently required to undertake any form of specialist training to ensure that they can meet the travel requirements of people with a disability.
The Department was pleased to have received twelve formal applications for the new licences and, following an assessment of those applications, decided to offer licences to four of the applicants, subject to each applicant attending a full days training course designed to address safe driving, disability awareness and the correct handling of wheelchairs and associated specialist vehicle equipment. At the end of the course applicants were required to sit an informal exam and the Department is pleased to report that all four applicants passed.
The Department is delighted with the enthusiasm that has been shown by each of the successful applicants and is pleased to note that there will shortly be four purpose-built accessible taxis in circulation on Island roads.
The newly appointed licence holders will be permitted to use the taxi ranks and carry non-disabled clients. However, priority must always be given to people with a disability and the Department will be monitoring the use of these vehicles and liaising with users of the service over the coming months to ensure that this initiative is providing improved access to public transport options for people with a disability.
