New taxi standards

Spook_ie

So the taxiregulator is finaly releasing the new taxi standards...
Should be interesting over the next while to see how it all stacks up....

Original pdf here

(26 November 2007) The Commission for Taxi Regulation has today published new
vehicle standards for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including taxis, hackneys and limousines. The new standards will bring in reforms across a wide range of areas within the sector on a phased basis from 2008 to 2012.
The document is the culmination of a consultation process which began last year
attracting submissions from the industry, consumers and other interested parties
including organisations representing people with disabilities and vehicle suppliers.
The new standards cover a number of areas including vehicle condition, basic
vehicle specification, comfort and safety and wheelchair accessible taxis and
hackneys. Accessibility is a key theme, not only in ensuring that all taxis and
hackneys are more accessible to those with disabilities but also specifically with
major improvements to the wheelchair accessible service.

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation Kathleen Doyle commented, “The primary aim of the new standards is to improve the quality of service, comfort and safety for all
passengers and drivers. Generally speaking, the existing SPSV fleet is of a high
standard, however, it is essential that we ensure that everyone in the industry meets the same standards so that consumers can be confident of a consistent service nationwide.

Currently, we have 25,019 vehicles on the road operating as SPSVs and there is a
huge diversity in this fleet, with over 250 different models. Whilst we are not looking to put any particular vehicle off the road or direct drivers towards one particular vehicle, there are certain minimum conditions that must be met in terms of age, size, accessibility and other criteria. It is well known that more modern vehicles are safer and more environmentally friendly and that has played a role in the establishment of the new standards.”

Some of the main features of the new vehicle standards are;
Standard Taxis and Hackneys:
(For new applicants from 01/01/09, existing licence holders from 01/01/12)
• Vehicle age of not more than nine years
• Luggage capacity of 420 litres
• Small cars, i.e. those not capable of seating four adult passengers in comfort are
no longer permitted


Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles:
(For new applicants from 2008, existing licence holders from 01/01/12)
• New Category of wheelchair accessible hackney
• Vehicles capable of seating one person in their wheelchair and at least three
adult passengers
• Wheelchair accessible vehicles will now meet the requirement to meet new EC
directive regarding safety standards for all vehicles
• Goods vehicles converted to wheelchair accessible vehicles will no longer be
permitted, conversions should be made to passenger vehicles instead


Limousines
(For new applicants from 01/01/09, existing licence holders from 01/01/12)
• Modified vehicles or stretch vehicles will now require an engineers report prior to
licensing
• Further consultation with the industry regarding categories of limousines and age
limit
All SPSVs will be required to have:
(For all licence holders from 01/01/09)
• Good standard of cleanliness
• Safety equipment including a fire extinguisher, First Aid kit, advance warning
triangle, high visibility reflective vest
• Torch
• Pen and paper

Ms Doyle further commented that, “It is essential that we enable service providers
sufficient advance notice to enable future business planning. With this in mind, the
new standards will co-exist with the existing standards for a period of time in order to enable a smooth transition. In the case of wheelchair accessible vehicles in particular, the new specifications will have cost implications for the industry and
therefore the Commission has made a submission to the Department of Transport for a subsidy for the industry for purchasing new wheelchair accessible taxis and
hackneys.”

The Commissioner concluded by saying; “As ever, I must acknowledge the
professionalism and high level of service provided by a large number of SPSV
operators and I am confident that the new vehicle standards will see everyone
operating to the same high standards. We look forward to working with all in the
business in implementing these new regulations to improve the overall experience for customers and ensuring that Ireland has a SPSV fleet of which everyone can be
proud.”
‘Vehicle Standards’ is available on the Commission’s website: www.taxiregulator.ie,
from the Commission’s offices at 35 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2 or by calling the
Industry Information Line on 1890 347 347.
Ends

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/11609540?view=Eircomnet&cat=Breaking%20News

Regulator to take old taxis off road
From ireland.com12:59Monday, 26th November, 2007

Taxis that are more than nine years old are to be outlawed, under new rules announced by the Taxi Regulator today.

The proposals are due to come into effect for existing taxis and hackney vehicles from the beginning of 2012. However, drivers looking for taxi or hackney licences from the start of 2009 will have to adhere to the new rule.

The new vehicle standards will also require cars to have a luggage capacity of at least 420 litres and small cars will be no longer permitted as taxis or hackneys by the Regulator.

The Regulator also announced a new category of wheelchair accessible hackney cars and said goods vehicles converted to wheelchair accessible vehicles will no longer be permitted

Limousines will require a an engineer's report prior to licensing and further consultation with the industry regarding categories of limousines and age limit is needed, Taxi Regulation Kathleen Doyle said. Limousines will also have to have safety equipment, including a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, advance warning triangle, and high visibility reflective vest, as well as a torch and a pen and paper.

"The primary aim of the new standards is to improve the quality of service, comfort and safety for all passengers and drivers," Ms Doyle said.

"Generally speaking, the existing SPSV fleet is of a high standard, however, it is essential that we ensure that everyone in the industry meets the same standards so that consumers can be confident of a consistent service nationwide."

There are 25,019 vehicles on the road operating as small public service vehicles (SPSVs). This includes 17,485 taxis, 1,464 wheelchair-accessible taxis, 4,759 hackneys and 1,311 Limousines.

Hotblack Desiato

Spook_ie wrote: »

• Goods vehicles converted to wheelchair accessible vehicles will no longer be permitted, conversions should be made to passenger vehicles instead

Good riddance to those bloody awful Hiaces.

Spook_ie

ninja900 wrote: »

Good riddance to those bloody awful Hiaces.

Are the Hi Aces converted from vans or do they come like the Caravelles,Scudos and Transits in a passenger version, if they do come in a passenger version then they'll still be around...

ongarite

9 years is pretty old for a taxi I think. Most would have clocked up 300,000KM by that time and be pretty well worn.
I think 6 years would be better and safer.

Ham'nd'egger

Spook_ie wrote: »

Are the Hi Aces converted from vans or do they come like the Caravelles,Scudos and Transits in a passenger version, if they do come in a passenger version then they'll still be around...

Caravelle and Hiace come in fitted with windows as passenger vehicles, Spook. Actually, most VW Caravelles on the road are taxis; they are uncommon as a commercial vehicle on the roads. Transits come with crew windows as option on the long wheel based model. There is one or two passed out as taxis and I have also seen a Nissan Novaro pick up as well; this is the sort of thing that should be hit by this.

What will be interesting is the notion of a car seating 4 passengers in comfort and how this will be interpreted by the Regulator's office. Some cars (Toyota Corrolla, Skoda Fabio, Ford Focus, Nissan Almera) may be found wanting, while boot space may see some People Carriers squeezed out of the market.

Ham'nd'egger

ongarite wrote: »

9 years is pretty old for a taxi I think. Most would have clocked up 300,000KM by that time and be pretty well worn.
I think 6 years would be better and safer.

Generally, yes this is the case but larger engined cars tend to wear better and are more suitable to be used as a taxi; a 9 year old Merc is far better suited and practical as a taxi than, say a 9 year old Toyota Camry, Opel Vectra or VW Passat.

PRND

Hamndegger wrote: »

Caravelle and Hiace come in fitted with windows as passenger vehicles, Spook. Actually, most VW Caravelles on the road are taxis; they are uncommon as a commercial vehicle on the roads. Transits come with crew windows as option on the long wheel based model. There is one or two passed out as taxis and I have also seen a Nissan Novaro pick up as well; this is the sort of thing that should be hit by this.

What will be interesting is the notion of a car seating 4 passengers in comfort and how this will be interpreted by the Regulator's office. Some cars (Toyota Corrolla, Skoda Fabio, Ford Focus, Nissan Almera) may be found wanting, while boot space may see some People Carriers squeezed out of the market.

The very fact that the Caravelle has a different name to the Transporter shows that it is not a commercial vehicle.

I would rather a 10 year old (or more) S-Class, of which there are a few, than a 1 year old Hyundai.

What is boot space like in a London Taxi?

Spook_ie

I think it warrants a little more investigation..

The Caravelle is a passenger version of the Transporter,the Ford Transit Torneo is a passenger Transit and the Scudo Combi is a passenger Scudo but is the Hi Ace a passenger version ( as manufactured ) or is it a conversion?

If its a passenger version that can be converted to wheelchair access then it would still be useable..

Would seem that the new regs give rise to as many questions as answers...

Maybe it's time the TR actualy asked the drivers...

Victor

Two guys bought a fire engine and converted the interior and want a limo licence for it.

Limos are apparently restricted to 3.5t (many armoured limos are up to 8t), which also excludes Hummers.

Of course they could probably get a bus licence for it.

hotshots85

Safety equipment including a fire extinguisher, First Aid kit, advance warning
triangle, high visibility reflective vest
• Torch
• Pen and paper
i like this bit a fire extinguisher for when the skangers set the taxi on fire or so as they can use it a a weapon to steal the taxi .and ofcourse the first aid kit to fix the head wound on the driver a torch to find the contents of the handbag that miss out of her face spilt on the floor and whats this all about A PEN AND PAPER now thats a farce whats that all about who does this regulater think taxi drivers are school kids btw im the son of one of those very much hated people :D

Ham'nd'egger

PRND wrote: »

The very fact that the Caravelle has a different name to the Transporter shows that it is not a commercial vehicle.

I would rather a 10 year old (or more) S-Class, of which there are a few, than a 1 year old Hyundai.

What is boot space like in a London Taxi?

I don't know what the boot space is on a "TX4" (Newest London Cab); TFL has not any set minimum space for a cab's boot other than that there should be adequate space in proportion to the passengers the cab can carry. From photos, I'd guess it isn't too much in the boot itself, though some of them will take luggage in the front

On your point of a Caravelle/Transporter, the Caravelle is a passenger version of the Transporter (As is the California); it is the same beast with windows so my point remains; it isn't common. Incidentally, it can be viewed on http://www.vwcommercials.ie/

Cionád

ongarite wrote: »

9 years is pretty old for a taxi I think. Most would have clocked up 300,000KM by that time and be pretty well worn.
I think 6 years would be better and safer.

You are assuming all taxi's are bought and used as taxi's from new - Not always the case.