IoL - ALL THINGS LICENSING
It’s also worth highlighting that whilst you may be endorsed with six points on your DVLA licence for using a handheld device, the model ‘convictions policy’ concerning mobile phone use in the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards (which all licensing authorities are expected to have regard to and only depart from in exceptional circumstances) indicates that drivers with a conviction for using a mobile
2. Passengers’ experiences with drivers is highly variable. More can be done to ensure greater consistency of service, addressing issues such as how to help passengers getting in and out of the vehicles, making sure the passenger is safely and comfortably secured, and improving driving style and interactions during the journey.
The report is published online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wheelchair- accessible-travel-taxi-and-private-hire-services NEW NATIONAL GROUP
The Institute of Licensing has recently set up a new National Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Group whose aim is to foster and discuss issues and act as the ‘go to’ national group from Government. With a wide range of parties involved this group has the making of a useful network of professionals to help steer national debate and reform.
UPDATES ON MOBILE PHONE USE
At the end of March, new Highway Code rules came into force to make any hand-held use of a mobile phone while driving illegal, except in limited circumstances. The changes were supported by 80% of respondents in a public consulta- tion in 2021.
You must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline. The law applies to you if you are:
• supervising a learner driver • stopped at traffic lights • queuing in traffic • driving a car that turns the engine off when you stop moving • holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode
There are exceptions, such as if you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency or making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving.
As an increasing number of the trade rely on using mobile devices for receiving jobs, getting directions, communicating with customers and taking payments amongst other tasks, it is essential that you read and understand the full rules on using a phone, sat nav or another device when driving, which are available on
gov.uk.
MAY 2022
phone should not be licensed for a period of five years post conviction.
BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE CONSULTATION
Finally, the much anticipated and long awaited update to the ‘Best Practice Guidance’ issued to local authorities has been published for consultation by the Department for Transport.
The DfT has issued best practice guidance on taxi and pri- vate hire vehicle licensing since 2006, with the last revision to the guidance issued in 2010. Clearly the sector has changed unrecognisably since then.
The guidance is non-statutory (unlike the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards published in July last year) and is a useful publication which aims to assist councils that have responsibility for the regulation of this sector with their pol- icy and standard setting.
The current consultation has been updated significantly (the 2010 version is 27 pages with the current consultation version running to 99 pages) and according to the DfT takes into account stakeholder views and changes in the way the sector operates.
DfT is seeking views from the public, licensing authorities and the taxi and PHV industry on the proposed updated version and I would encourage members of the trade to con- sider its contents and feed views back to the DfT.
More information is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/taxi-and- private-hire-vehicle-best-practice-guidance
The consultation period began on 28 March 2022 and will run until 23:45 on 20 June 2022. The amount of relevant information which is likely to affect the licensed trade, again only emphasises the importance of being ‘in the know’ about licensing issues and what your local authority should (or shouldn’t) be doing, with the reasons behind it.
I would encourage members of the trade to join the IoL to keep on top of the latest goings on. The new membership year has just begun with membership starting at just £72.
Full details are available at:
www.instituteoflicensing.org. 85
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