ALL THINGS LICENSING
be booked and to show that the vehicle is licensed.
The final version of the BPG main- tains that the government believes high levels of signage draw attention to PHVs
leading the public to
This is perhaps an area of considerable deviation between authorities in some areas and unsurprisingly there were many responses to this question, including other measures proposed to assess vehicle suitability, such as emissions levels, safety ratings or mileage.
Overall, most were in agreement that this would significantly benefit vehicle proprietors and the government has set out in the final version of the Guidance that: licensing authorities should not refuse to license a vehicle due it reaching a specified age.
VEHICLE SIGNAGE
Finally, considering the variable and controversial issue of vehicle signage, the Best Practice Guidance sets out that: private hire vehicles should not be permitted to have roof signs to provide greater distinction between PHVs and taxis.
Moving onto the more controversial issues of PHV livery and operator signage, these proposals elucidated different views, with some suggesting increased signage helped distinguish the fact that PHVs were not available for immediate hire, whereas other views expressed that more signage may confuse customers.
Having considered the many responses on this topic, the government view remains that: a distinctive livery requirement would perpetuate the current confusion between taxis and PHVs and complicate the message needed to raise public awareness of the differences between taxis and PHVs.
The issue of operator signage is described as divisive, with little consensus as to what signage should and should not be on PHVs. However there remains a consensus that it is beneficial for the public to be able to better differentiate between taxis, PHVs and those vehicles which are not licensed. The consultation proposals looked to achieve this by limiting vehicle signage on private hire vehicles; with the pre-booked sign acting to inform the public that the vehicle must
PHTM JANUARY 2024 mistake them as a taxi, posing a
potential risk to passengers and PHV driver safety. Therefore, reducing the relative visibility of PHVs in comparison to taxis should help to increase the public’s awareness of the differences between the two elements of the sector, concluding that: limited signage on private hire vehicles will assist this objective and build on the earlier recommendations on roof signs and vehicle livery.
TO CONCLUDE:
Clearly, now the final version of the Guidance is available there are likely to be significant changes for both local authorities and the licensed trade.
However, whist the Guidance is much improved and much welcomed, it does not perhaps offer definitive guidance on some areas which cause such inconsistency between authorities and thus potential tension between regulators and the trade. It also does not tackle some of the more controversial and difficult aspects of the trade, such as out of area working, which will potentially only be addressed by much needed legislative reform.
Nonetheless, the Government has committed to continue to engage with the sector to ensure that the Best Practice Guidance keeps pace with the ever- changing nature of the taxi and private hire vehicle trade, as it adapts to changes in society and technology. As there was a considerable gap between versions of the Guidance in a time where the sector underwent considerable changes, this is to be welcomed.
Yet again, there’s no more important time to be ‘in the know’ about licensing issues affecting the industry and I would encourage members of the trade to join the Institute of Licensing where the guidance is likely to be subject of many events and publications this year.
Full details are available at:
www.instituteoflicensing.org
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