Advice for Taxi Drivers

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A Code of Practice for taxi drivers called "Meeting the Needs of Passengers with a Disability" has been produced by Northern Ireland's Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (Imtac). It has been drawn up in line with the Disability Discrimination Act and it is meant to ensure that disabled people are carried in taxis in safety and comfort and with their dignity intact. Imtac believes that it is important that all drivers have the awareness, understanding and necessary skills to provide a good, safe service to anyone who requires it.

To be accredited under this scheme, taxi drivers must attend a training course and agree to adhere to the Code. As an Imtac Approved Taxi Driver they will receive a certificate and badge denoting their status. Their names will be kept on a list which is distributed to members of the public and other organisations representing disabled people and statutory bodies. In this way Imtac hopes to promote good practice in the taxi industry in its dealings with disabled people.

Imtac now endorses the Passenger Assistance Training Scheme (PATS), operated by the Community Transport Association for taxi drivers, as part of the Code. For information on PATS training contact Bryan Myles or Shauna Lavery at the Community Transport Association (CTA)

For a copy of the Code of Practice or further information on Imtac’s Taxi Code of Practice Training Course contact:

Michael Lorimer
Imtac
Portside Business Park,
189 Airport Road West,
Belfast,
BT3 9ED.

Phone: (028) 9029 7880
Fax: (028) 9029 7881
Textphone: (028) 9029 7882
E-Mail:Michael.Lorimer@tacni.org.uk

A list of Taxi Companies who have put some of their drivers through this training course is available through the ‘Find Transport in Your Area’ search facility under "taxi companies".