Etude conjointe CEMT-IRU « Amélioration de l’accessibilité des taxis » - Kathleen Doyle

Kathleen Doyle, Director of Operations, Commission for Taxi Regulation, Ireland

Challenges and opportunities for authorities to improve access to taxis
The situation in Ireland

The Commission for Taxi Regulation in Ireland was established in September 2004. The principal function of the Commission is the development and maintenance of a regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles and their drivers.

Our Mission

• To achieve a first class, professional, efficient, safe and accessible customer-friendly service for small public service vehicle passengers and service providers

Two of the key objectives of the Commission include:

• to promote the development of high quality cost effective services by small public service vehicles and their drivers which meet a wide range of customer needs including those of passengers with mobility or sensory impairments;

• to promote access to small public service vehicles by persons with disabilities.

Research and Consultation carried out by the Commission:

• 2005 - National review of small public service vehicle services and vehicle standards in Ireland

• 2005 - Roadmap towards a new national code of regulations for small public service vehicles in Ireland

• 2005 - Review of Taxi fares and taximeter areas in Ireland

• 2006 - Action plan “Driving Forward” published introducing a number of new reforms to services provided by the small public service vehicle industry in Ireland

Current provision of services for people with disabilities

• Research showed decline in numbers of wheelchair accessible taxis. Whilst the figure for taxis in Ireland at December 2006 was 16,429, only 1,329 were wheelchair accessible taxis.

• The cost of providing a wheelchair accessible service is a deterrent

• While some people with disabilities report excellent experiences with SPSV services in other cases there is a need to change attitudes and behaviour

• Booking services through Dispatch Centre Operators are often unavailable to people with disabilities

• Incentives are required

• Awareness and training required for drivers and operators

Improvising Accessibility for all

The Commission for Taxi Regulation will throughout 2007 continue to have:

• Improved information through public awareness, in-vehicle customer charter information, new driver identification, dedicated consumer telephone line, and website updates

• Accessible complaints and commendation system

• Improved enforcement through recruitment of Enforcement Officers

• Improved booking procedures planned for bookings with Dispatch Centres

• Dispatch operators to provide fully accessible services with incentives for affiliation of wheelchair accessible licence holders

• Review of current taxi ranks and preparation of guidelines for fully accessible taxi ranks

• Training for drivers and dispatch operators in disability awareness

• New vehicle specifications for a fully accessible vehicle to be introduced on a phased basis commencing 2008

• Incentives through application for a subsidy to assist operators to purchase a fully accessible vehicle

• Continued reduced fee for wheelchair accessible vehicle licences

• Commissions publications available in large print and Braille

New Vehicle Standards for Ireland

• Commission has published Vehicle standards consultation paper following extensive research and participation with the ECMT-IRU task force

• Considerable assistance by the Task Force has enabled the Commission in arriving at minimum and ideal proposed specifications for a fully accessible vehicle

Vehicle changes proposed in Commission’s consultation paper

• Minimum dimensions which should be met for licensing of a wheelchair accessible taxi or hackney

• Introduction of a wheelchair accessible hackney catagory

• Ideal specification for a fully accessible vehicle in the long term to influence design and size of future base vehicles that could be adapted as accessible SPSV’s

• Commission’s proposals are broadly in line with the findings of the ECMT-IRU Taxi Accessibility Task Force findings, for the provision of fully accessible vehicles which can be used by the majority of people with disabilities

Timescale for implementation of new vehicle standards

• New design for wheelchair accessible vehicles will require a vehicle acceptable in terms of design, cost and running costs

• Following consultation reforms will be implemented on a phased basis commencing in 2008 with new entrants to the market, and mandatory for all wheelchair accessible licence holders from 2012

• Commission is in discussion with the Department of Transport regarding a subsidy to assist in the purchase of new wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys

• The Commission’s aim on availability of a subsidy is to increase the number of wheelchair accessible taxi and hackneys by 500 by 2012

• Consideration will be given to the feasibility of supply from vehicle manufacturers

Commission Pilot schemes for 2007

The Commission will throughout 2007 introduce a number of pilots in the provision of services for people with disabilities

• Swivel seat

• Induction loop

• Audible taximeter

Results of pilots will be published on Commission’s website

Balance Overall Quality

• A balance of overall quality, accessibility and safety improvements to enable passengers to embark, travel and disembark with safety and comfort
• This balance requires the Commission to consider the practical implications that these reforms will impose on drivers and operators

The Commission for Taxi Regulation is proposing reforms across a wide range of areas in relation to vehicle standards within the small public service vehicle sector in Ireland. Our vehicle standards consultation document together with all of our publications and information are available on our website.

watch Kathleen Doyle's Powerpoint presentation

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