Hertfordshire taxis

Taxi Travel overview 

Many taxi companies now offer wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis are usually black cabs, wheelchair-adapted vehicles, people carriers, minibuses or converted small vans. They may have a ramp or a passenger lift to assist the wheelchair user with getting into the vehicle, which is far easier than transferring from a wheelchair to a car seat and dismantling the wheelchair for the journey. 

As wheelchairs are carefully designed to support a disabled person, wheelchair-accessible taxis allow disabled people to stay in the position that is best for their body and posture.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis must be equipped to secure the wheelchair when the cab is in motion. Seat belts or lap belts should be available to keep the wheelchair user steady.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis are also adding different forms of lighting to help the visually impaired.

All the equipment in a wheelchair taxi should be regularly tested by the driver to ensure it remains in good repair. 

Accessible Taxi companies

A1 Taxi’s (St Albans)

Offer a 24-hour service, including airport transfers. You can book and pay online. There is also an available App.
Contact: 01727 866666 or admin@a1taxis.net

Corker Taxi’s (St Albans)

https://www.corker.taxi/wheelchair-cabs/
Contact: 01727 811844 or enquiries@corker.taxi

Welwyn Taxi’s

Offer a 24-hour service including airport transfers. You can book and pay online.
Contact: 01707 444445 or info@welwyntaxis.co.uk

Abbots Taxi’s (Knebworth)

https://www.abbotstaxis.co.uk

Supporting: ADHD; learning difficulties; visual impairment; emotional and behavioural difficulties; speech, language and communication; Autism; mental health condition; deaf and/or hard of hearing; Downs Syndrome; physical disability; cerebral palsy.

Contact 07483 895098 or paul@abbotstaxis.co.uk

Foxholes Car Service (Hertford)

Offer a 24-hour service including booking lines. Contact: 01992 500750 or info@foxholescars.co.uk

Hackney Carriages

These vehicles generally look like London style cabs and all have an illuminated TAXI sign on the roof. Taxis can be hailed in the street or they can be hired at taxi ranks. All hackney carriages are wheelchair accessible vehicles, although drivers may not be able to carry all types of wheelchairs. Drivers will perform a risk assessment for less standard wheelchairs to establish if they are able to transport them safely.

Planning a journey

When booking a taxi from a firm which is not a wheelchair specialist, ensure you mention at the time of booking that you will need an accessible car.

Operator obligations

The law states that to comply with The Equalities Act 2010, licensed drivers are under a legal duty to carry wheelchair users, guide, hearing and other prescribed assistance dogs in their vehicles without additional charge. The law expects drivers:

• to carry the passenger while in a wheelchair
• not to make any additional charge for doing so
• if the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat, to carry the wheelchair
• to take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort; and
• to give the passenger such mobility assistance as is reasonable

All taxi and minicab drivers must make sure they do not discriminate against disabled people and should not treat them less favourably than non-disabled customers. They should also make reasonable adjustments to ensure you receive the same services, as far as this is possible, as someone who is not disabled.

If a taxi driver does discriminate against you, you should complain to your local authority’s Licencing Department.