REAR LOADING TAXIS

Motion Text

That this House believes that converted vehicle hackney carriages (taxis) that load wheelchair passengers from the rear, that are currently licensed in a growing number of local authorities outside London, particularly in the North East, are unsuitable for taxi use; notes that whilst being loaded such rear-access taxis place the wheelchair user passenger in a dangerous position on the road to the rear of the taxi, where he risks being hit by traffic coming up from behind; further notes that many AA, RAC and Green Flag recovery technicians are killed on UK roads by traffic approaching from behind whilst standing behind vehicles; further notes the concerns that Radar and the Spinal Injuries Association have about rear loading taxis; further notes that those licensing rear loading taxis do not seem to have undertaken a comprehensive risk assessment; and therefore calls upon licensing authorities throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland only to license side loading wheelchair accessible taxis from now on.