Reading Council's guide dog compliance test sees local private hire drivers accept, but cross-border cab refusal

In a recent initiative, Reading Council partnered with Guide Dogs UK to test the compliance of Private Hire drivers with regulations requiring them to accommodate passengers with assistance dogs.

The test purchase exercise aimed to ensure that all licensed private hire vehicle (PHV) services uphold their legal obligations without discrimination.

The council's licensing officers organised a series of seven test journeys, where a volunteer from Guide Dogs UK, accompanied by their guide dog, posed as a passenger. Six of these journeys were in vehicles licensed by Reading Council, with one in a vehicle licensed by a neighbouring authority.

The results were largely positive. All six Reading Council vehicles agreed to transport the assistance dog without additional charges, demonstrating compliance with the essential non-discrimination rule. However, each of these vehicles exhibited minor non-compliance issues, such as drivers failing to wear their identity badges, which are also required by licence conditions. The vehicle licensed by the neighbouring authority, however, failed to meet the required standards.

Following the exercise, penalty points and warning letters have been issued to the drivers who did not fully comply with all licence conditions. The council has also launched an investigation into the out-of-area driver who refused to carry the guide dog.

Reading Council and Guide Dogs UK will continue their collaboration, focusing on educating operators about the importance of adhering to these regulations. Their joint efforts aim to ensure that all passengers, regardless of their needs, receive fair and inclusive service across the board.