Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver standards

Your passengers place their safety and trust in your hands. These standards explain what is expected whenever you are working as a licensed driver in Bradford.

Standards for Drivers

1. Put safety first

  • Drive safely, legally and calmly
  • Do not use a mobile phone or other device while driving
  • Never work under the influence of alcohol or drugs

2. Protect passengers

  • Look out for the welfare of children and vulnerable adults
  • Report concerns through the correct safeguarding procedures
  • Never exploit, intimidate or take advantage of a passenger
  • Never make inappropriate personal or sexual comments

3. Treat everyone with respect

  • Treat every passenger with dignity and respect
  • Do not discriminate, harass, threaten or abuse anyone
  • Remember that not all disabilities are visible

4. Be easy to identify

  • Wear your driver's badge where it can be clearly seen
  • Display the correct licence plates, discs and decals
  • Do not lend your badge or vehicle to an unlicensed driver

5. Keep your vehicle ready

  • Check tyres, lights, seatbelts and safety equipment regularly
  • Keep your vehicle clean, comfortable and smoke-free

6. Follow the rules on fares

Hackney Carriage drivers only

  • Use the correct meter and tariff
  • Take a reasonable route
  • Explain unavoidable changes and provide a receipt if requested

7. Follow hiring rules

Private Hire drivers only

  • Every journey must be booked through your licensed operator before it starts
  • Do not accept street hails
  • Do not take passengers from a taxi rank
  • Taking a journey that has not been pre-booked is a criminal offence

8. Give a reliable service

  • Arrive on time whenever possible
  • Check that you have the correct passenger and destination
  • Offer reasonable help with luggage and passenger access needs
  • Do not sound your horn outside a passenger's address unless necessary for safety

9. Protect privacy and property

  • Do not share passenger details, photographs or conversations
  • Do not share your personal phone number or social media details with passengers
  • Check for lost property after each journey
  • Follow your operator's or licensing authority's procedures for returning property

10. Report and co-operate

  • Tell us about any relevant changes to your personal details
  • Report incidents within the required timescales
  • Be honest and co-operate with authorised officers and the police

You must always

  • Carry an assistance dog at no extra charge, unless you hold and display a valid exemption
  • Provide reasonable assistance to disabled passengers and follow any wheelchair duties that apply to your vehicle
  • Report emergency concerns to the police by calling 999
  • Report non-emergency concerns to taxi.testing@bradford.gov.uk
  • Wear your driver's badge and display all required vehicle signage
  • Keep your DBS certificate subscribed to the DBS Update Service

You must never

  • Drive dangerously
  • Use a mobile phone or other device while driving
  • Work under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Threaten, harass or make unwanted sexual approaches towards passengers
  • Discriminate against anyone
  • Overcharge passengers or falsify records
  • Allow an unlicensed driver to operate your licensed vehicle
  • Display more than one private hire operator's decals at the same time
  • Use a taxi rank if you are a Private Hire driver
  • Use a bus lane unless signage specifically permits it

Professional conduct

Your conduct matters both inside and outside your vehicle where it may affect public safety or your fitness to hold a licence.

Ask yourself:

"Would I be happy for someone I care about to travel alone with a driver behaving as I am?"

If standards are not met

Complaints, intelligence and conduct concerns may be considered even where there has been no criminal conviction.

Action may include:

  • investigation
  • written warning
  • suspension
  • revocation of a licence
  • prosecution

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