Equality Bill

120: After Clause 159, insert the following new Clause— ““Private hire vehicle accessibility regulations (1) The Secretary of State may make regulations (in this section referred to as ““private hire vehicle accessibility regulations””) for securing that it is possible for disabled persons— (a) to get into and out of private hire vehicles in safety; (b) to do so while in wheelchairs; (c) to travel in private hire vehicles in safety and reasonable comfort; (d) to do so while in wheelchairs. (2) The regulations may, in particular, require a regulated private hire vehicle to conform with provision as to— (a) the size of a door opening for the use of passengers; (b) the floor area of the passenger compartment; (c) the amount of headroom in the passenger compartment; (d) the fitting of restraining devices designed to ensure the stability of a wheelchair while the private hire vehicle is moving. (3) The regulations may also— (a) require the driver of a regulated private hire vehicle which is plying for hire, or which has been hired, to comply with provisions as to the carrying of ramps of other devices designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of wheelchairs; (b) require the driver of a regulated private hire vehicle in which a disabled person is being carried while in a wheelchair to comply with provisions as to the position in which the wheelchair is to be secured. (4) The driver of a regulated private hire vehicle which is plying for hire or has been hired commits an offence— (a) by failing to comply with a requirement of the regulations, or (b) if the private hire vehicle fails to conform with any provision of the regulations with which it is required to conform. (5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. (6) In this section— ““passenger compartment”” has such meaning as is specified in private hire vehicle accessibility regulations; ““regulated private hire vehicle”” means a private hire vehicle to which private hire accessibility regulations are expressed to apply.””