WITH SAFETY SCREENS
NORTH DEVON COUNCIL SAYS DRIVERS SHOULD CONSIDER INSTALLING PROTECTIVE SCREENS
Taxi drivers and their passengers should wear face- masks to prevent the spread of coron- avirus, according to recommendations from North Devon Council (NDC). The council has issued guidance to taxi and private hire vehicle drivers in the district following
new advice issued by the Government to support local transport services and residents who need to travel by public transport. NDC said drivers should also consider installing protective screens in their vehi- cles, providing they do not compromise public safety.
Passengers are also recommended to use a face covering, carry a hand sanitis- er and wash their hands before and after travel to help reduce the rate of infection. Vernon Wood, owner of Silverline Cabs in Bideford, said the industry had been forgotten
SLOUGH COUNCIL SUPPORTS SCREENS FOR TAXIS AND PHVS
Slough Borough Council has thrown its support behind a new initiative for taxis and private hire vehicles to install a plastic screen between the driver and passen- gers to protect all residents when trav- elling in the future. According to the Slough Express, polycarbonate clear screens are being recommended by the licensed vehicle governing bodies for the safety of taxi drivers, the private hire workforce and their passengers. A spokesman for National Private Hire and Taxi Associa- tion, the NPHTA, said: “We believe the installation of a protection screen between the front and back compart- ment of the vehicle, of similar standards to that seen in a pur- pose built hackney carriage, combined
JUNE 2020
with the wearing of PPE facemasks and observing the ex- tensive cleaning protocols, offers the best possible form of protection. “This approach will also boost the pub- lic’s confidence in making use of those services again. “It is hoped that eventually, the gen- eral public will be transportable by taxi and private hire vehicles once again in a more normal fashion and volume. The only way this can happen is by boosting the confi- dence they have in entering and using all types of licensed vehicles; we must be seen to do every- thing within our power to achieve this.” Cllr Pavitar K. Mann, cabinet member for planning and regula- tion, said: “Covid-19 is not a short term pandemic and the
council has taken the decision that screens are a benefit if added to a vehicle. “However, licence holders must have them professionally installed and the screens must be of the right quality so residents have con- fidence using li- censed vehicles. “Drivers are remind- ed to deep clean vehicles regularly as this virus is transmit- ted by droplets from coughs and sneezes. “The council appre- ciates there are costs involved for the drivers, but the safety of drivers and passengers is para- mount.” The council recom- mends drivers con- tact their insurer prior to any installa- tion and all in- stallations are car- ried out by trained professionals with verified polycarbon- ate units which can cost up to £500.
until now. He told the North Devon Gazette: “These are measures that my company has had in place since the beginning, however due to lack of guidelines for the industry many drivers have been putting themselves at risk for months. “As a cabbie I wel- come new guide- lines but feel they won’t go far enough. I would like to see all taxis and private hire vehicles fitted with screens. As much as I dislike them I feel they are
necessary for the protection of cus- tomers and drivers. “I feel like we were the forgotten indus- try and I’m still unhappy that this did not come soon- er.” Council
Councillor David Worden,
leader, said:
“Coronavirus has had a profound impact on public transport and will continue to do so long into the future. “Everyone will have to continue playing a part in reducing demand on services by working from
home if they possi- bly can. “Please avoid public transport wherever possible and when this is not possible, consider wearing a non-medical cover- ing over your nose and mouth and carry a hand sanitis- er to prevent the spread of this dis- ease.” The latest govern- ment advice on face coverings is while they are unlikely to prevent you from getting the virus, they could help pre- vent you giving it to others.
CARLISLE CITY COUNCIL HELPING TO KEEP TAXIS SAFE
Carlisle City Council is working to protect at-risk taxi drivers and their passengers with the installation of screens in their vehicles. According to the News and Star, the work the authority is undertaking to help drivers in hack- ney carriage and private hire vehicles to stay safe was outlined at a virtual regulatory panel meeting
on
Wednesday 27 May after the industry was identified by the Office of National Statistics as one with a raised risk of death during the coronavirus pandemic. That includes help- ing drivers who wish
to install protective screens in their vehi- cles to get auth- orisation and ensur- ing they do so safely. Nicola Edwards, the council's licensing manager, said: “The National Private Hire and Taxi Association is mounting a cam- paign in favour of the installation of screens as protec- tion both for the driver and members of the public. "We, the car licens- ing
support the installa- tion of protective screens in licensed vehicles, provided they are fit for pur- pose and of a safe standard. "There is no require- ment for members to make amend-
ments to the licence conditions but licence holders are required to obtain permission
for authority,
installation. "A guidance note has been produced, alongside a proce- dure for auth- orisation, to ensure that licence holders are able to fit screens in their vehi- cles without an unnecessary delay." The council, which licenses more than 300 taxi drivers in the city, is still pro- cessing renewal of licences but new applications are not currently being accepted due to the necessary face-to- face inspections, training and tests not being carried out.
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