MOBILITY MATTERS
TRAINING GAP EXPOSED AFTER CHORLEY CABBIE SUSPENDED OVER ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR NEAR-MISS
A Taxi boss is urging Chorley Council to close a “very dangerous training gap” concerning electric wheelchairs after a local driver was suspended following a serious near-miss incident. The hackney driver, was suspended after a passenger’s
electric
wheelchair fell backwards while attempting to ascend a ramp into the taxi. The driver was present and managed to intervene, narrowly avoiding serious injury to
the
passenger. Shaz Malik, owner of Four Sixes, and founder of the Chorley Taxi Association, and a board member of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA), and
David
Lawrie, Director of the NPHTA, represented the driver Ali at the licensing hearing on October 22. While Mr Malik said he deemed the suspension decision “a fair and balanced decision after
consideration of all the evidence,” he heavily criticised the lack of specific training provided by the council for electric wheelchairs. “This incident has exposed a serious gap in policy and training,” Mr. Malik stated. “Drivers currently receive guidance on transporting manual wheelchairs, but there is no specific training on safely loading and securing electric wheelchairs and what vehicle type of vehicle can take electric wheelchairs. This is a critical omission that must be addressed as a matter of urgency.” He warned that electric chairs with a user can weigh up to 200kg and “pose a huge risk to anyone trying to hold them,”calling it a “national safety issue.” In response, Chorley Council placed the burden of seeking additional training on the drivers themselves. Councillor Alex Hilton stated: “The council accredits three providers of
WEST NORTHANTS CABBIE TO PAY £1,367 FOR REFUSING DOG
A taxi driver has been ordered to pay a total of £1,367 after being found guilty of refusing to pick up a passenger accompanied by an assistance dog in Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes City Council investigated the matter and found that the driver, Mr Musthafa, had “driven past the passenger and made no attempt to pick her up.” He was subsequently found guilty by
Milton Keynes Magistrates
Court under two sections of the Equality Act 2010. For the first breach, he was fined
46
£405, and ordered to pay a £162 victim surcharge and £600 in costs. For the second breach, the court ordered him to pay £200 in compensation to
the victim
instead of a further fine. Under UK law, taxi drivers commit an offence under the Equality Act 2010 if they refuse a passenger with an assistance dog, unless they hold a valid medical exemption. Mr Musthafa’s licence is now under review by West Northants Council.
wheelchair training, and it is our policy that any person who drives a wheelchair accessible vehicle must complete appropriate training... While it is not achievable to train every driver on every individual wheelchair model, the accredited training covers essential principles such as ensuring no wheelchair is ever left unsecured within a vehicle.” Councillor Hilton stressed that they “expect all drivers to take personal responsibility for maintaining safe and inclusive practices. Where additional training is needed to meet these standards, it is compulsory on the driver to seek it out. This is not optional, it’s part of delivering a safe and respectful service to our residents.” Following the hearing, the NPHTA took immediate action. David Lawrie, Director of the NPHTA, contacted Diamond Driver training, which among other courses, provides the national wheelchair training programme, to ensure they
incorporate electric
wheelchair transport into their training modules. He also raised the issue directly with various other national stakeholders as part of the current scheme, urging them to update and improve disability transport within all public transport services. Mr. Malik also reminded customers that under Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, drivers cannot charge extra for helping a wheelchair user into or out of a vehicle, or for securing the wheelchair, noting that “The meter should only start after the wheelchair is safely secured.”
DECEMBER 2025 PHTM
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