TFL PROPOSALS TO MODERNISE LONDON’S PRIVATE HIRE INDUSTRY

10 Mar 2016 04:08 PM

First significant amendments to private hire regulations since 1998 follow unprecedented increase in private hire driver and vehicle numbers.

New regulations that will modernise and improve the private hire industry will be considered by the TfL Board next week. The measures, which follow an extensive consultation process that attracted over 20,000 responses, will make travelling by private hire safer and more convenient for customers.

The Board will be asked to agree the following changes:

These changes, which represent the first significant amendments to the private hire regulations since they were introduced in 1998, follow an unprecedented increase in private hire driver and vehicle numbers.

The number of private hire drivers has increased from 59,000 in April 2010 to around 100,000 today, contributing to issues such as congestion, pollution and illegal parking.

Action on air quality

The Mayor believes that more action must be taken to address the impacts of these increasing numbers, particularly on congestion and air quality. The Government has been reluctant to introduce legislation to allow TfL to restrict the number of drivers and vehicles on the roads in London.

In response, the Mayor has instructed TfL to investigate the potential effects of removing the Congestion Charge exemption currently given to private hire drivers fulfilling a booking, in order to see whether this may make a difference in those areas of concern.

The Mayor has also secured a commitment to progress separate legislation to enable TfL to regulate pedicabs, to crack down on unsafe pedicabs and tackle fare abuses prevalent among some pedicab drivers, whilst tackling the congestion they cause in central London, particularly in the evenings.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: 'The private hire industry in our city is flourishing and attracting unprecedented numbers of drivers and passengers. These regulations are designed to manage the continued development of the industry. If properly regulated and supported the private hire industry will continue to thrive in London.'

Private hire numbers

TfL estimates that the number of private hire vehicles operating within the central London Congestion Charge zone has increased by over 50% in the last two years. This means that 1 in 10 vehicles entering the zone is now a private hire vehicle.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL's Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport, said: 'During our consultation process, Londoners have made clear the improvements they want to see in the private hire industry.

'The package of changes being taken to the Board includes more robust insurance requirements when vehicles are licensed, a formal English language requirement for drivers, fares quotes for customers before their journeys, an easier process for customers to complain if they need to and more information given to customers about the car they are about to get into.

'This will help ensure a modern, flourishing and even safer private hire industry, and will provide choice for customers alongside London's iconic and world-class taxi service.'

Licence fees

TfL will also alter the structure of licence fees paid by operators of different sizes to better reflect the costs of compliance and enforcement activity. This will provide a financial incentive for operators to maximise the efficiency of their operations and minimise the number of vehicles they use across London as a whole.

The regulations will remain under review to ensure that they keep pace with the changing industry and support a modern and thriving trade, given the welcome technological innovations that have increased choice for customers in recent years.

Notes to Editors

The full list of proposals submitted for approval by the Board is as follows. Each of these proposals received majority support during the formal consultation:

The proposals that will be considered further are:

The proposals that were not taken forward from the consultation are: