As per Transport for London’s policies and the Equality Act 2010 to provide equal opportunities to all, becoming a licenced taxi driver is open for individuals with disabilities in London. The basic requirements for applying for a PCO vehicle licence are the same for everyone. Those with disabilities are required to meet certain medical guidelines indicated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), notably the DVLA Group 2 medical standards.
While physical disabilities and mobility issues are broadly allowed, some significant conditions may be disallowed for public safety. Eyesight, heart health, mental health and other fitness parameters may not get a licence. Applicants need to consider these details before applying.
As London’s only fast-track PCO licence centre, we at PCO Licence East London work with applicants with different types of disabilities. This article provides some valuable insights to help you plan your licensing journey consciously.
Drivers with Disabilities – Who Can Apply for PCO Vehicle Licence?
The significant speciality of the DVLA Group 2 medical standards is that they do not specifically define a disabled person who can be eligible to apply for a PCO vehicle licence in London. Instead, the guidelines list out certain “adaptive skills” and bodily functions that a taxi driver must have for safe driving and assisting their passengers. Below are some of the important parameters:
- Vision: the DVLA has a minimum eyesight standard as well as requirements for visuospatial functioning. Drivers must be able to read registration marks, signs, addresses and other formats of letters and numbers of a 79 mm/50 mm diameter from a 20-metre distance. This capability is vital for following traffic signals, manoeuvring the vehicle safely on dark highways and congested alleys, avoiding small animals coming in the way, etc.
- Hearing: DVLA has elaborated the hearing requirements in the (Group 2) standards from what it was in (Group 1). Taxi drivers must meet the average hearing threshold of 40 decibels (dB). Applicants must undergo a pure-tone audiometry test as part of the medical assessments. Persons who use hearing aids are allowed to apply, but they must wear the aids while driving. There are certain “hearing exemptions” in special cases, often personalised by the DVLA.
- Cognitive Skills: Cognitive skills include proper judgement, insight and understanding of traffic rules and vehicle manoeuvring, adaptive strategies in challenging situations, and the ability to self-monitor, coordinate, plan and organise all kinds of trips and assist passengers properly.
- Muscle Power and Control: Drivers need to fulfil certain duties for passengers, including providing mobility assistance and driving long distances. Therefore, to obtain the PCO driving license in London, taxi drivers must meet the parameters of muscle power, good reaction time and adaptive strategies to ensure a safe and smooth passenger experience.
Exemptions for Taxi Drivers with Disabilities to Obtain PCO Driving Licence in London
The TfL and the DVLA Group 2 have updated stringent guidelines for PHV drivers to assist passengers and offer a high-quality passenger experience, including passengers with disabilities. Taxi drivers are entitled to the duty to physically assist their passengers in wheelchair-accessible taxis, as well as in general cabs. It includes getting in and out of the vehicle, helping to put on mobility boots, explaining routes and helping passengers who travel with assistance dogs.
Taxi drivers with disabilities may be exempt from complying with these duties if they have any medical constraints or physical incapacity. The exemption is granted based on the “exemption certificate.” Aspiring taxi drivers with disabilities must obtain the certificate before they apply for the PCO driving licence in London.
PHV drivers may also need to get additional vehicle adaptations as per the guidelines of a GP and driver assessor appointed by the DVLA. This is to ensure that the driver has total control over the vehicle, despite their mobility issues or other disabilities. The adaptations may include attachments like a steering wheel ball, hand brakes and accelerators, and adjustments to the foot pedal.
Accessibility Features and Vehicle Upgrades for Taxis Driven by a Disabled Person
It may be a prominent picture of equality to have a taxi driver with a disability drive a passenger with a disability. PHV drivers with an exemption certificate are allowed to drive wheelchair-accessible vehicles in London. The TfL does, however, have certain guidelines for vehicle upgrades. If the driver is exempt from offering mobility assistance, in that case, the vehicle must have a low-height doorway and ease of access for the passenger to stow the wheelchair and transfer into their seat without assistance.
PCO Licence East London Offers Comprehensive Guidance for Taxi Drivers with Disabilities
If you are looking to apply for a PCO vehicle licence in London, then get your exemption certificate first. Connect with us at the PCO licence centre for a comprehensive and cohesive guideline to get through the entire process.
