Please give us your views on our proposals to amend the registration requirements for private hire taxi drivers with their operators by taking part in this survey.
Drivers are required to lodge their private hire driver’s licence with the operator they are working for, which is retained by the company.
A number of taxi firms have said that drivers are switching between operators without transferring their licence. This has led to the following safety concerns:
- Some drivers who change operator may not have insurance cover
- Some drivers are using several operator apps at a time and selectively choosing work, which may result in some bookings not being fulfilled.
We are proposing to amend our policy by which drivers can change operator digitally, rather than formally lodging their licence with the company.
The digital notification process will tell the taxi companies that the driver has switched operator and inform the driver the change has been facilitated. The driver must ensure they have the appropriate insurances.
The proposed change aims to ensure operators and drivers can successfully deliver their services and give customers the confidence that their bookings will be fulfilled. Drivers will also not be put at risk of breaking the law by driving without insurance.
If you wish to comment on the proposals please complete the survey. If you wish to object to the proposals, please email: letstalk@newcastle.gov.uk setting out the grounds for your objection. If you require information about this in a different format (such as large print), get in touch with us at the same email address.
We are asking for your contact details so that we can let you know about the outcomes of this consultation. We will store your details securely, we will not share them with anyone else, and we will not use them for any other purpose. If you would like us to remove your contact details from our records, please contact the consultation officer (details above).
We are asking for your contact details so that we can let you know about the outcomes of this consultation. We will store your details securely, we will not share them with anyone else, and we will not use them for any other purpose. If you would like us to remove your contact details from our records, please contact the consultation officer (details above).
We will use your responses to inform our decision about these proposals. You can find out what will happen next here on: www.letstalknewcastle.co.uk.
