Regulator to take old taxis off road

Taxis that are more than nine years old are to be outlawed, under new rules announced by the Taxi Regulator today.

The proposals are due to come into effect for existing taxis and hackney vehicles from the beginning of 2012. However, drivers looking for taxi or hackney licences from the start of 2009 will have to adhere to the new rule.

The new vehicle standards will also require cars to have a luggage capacity of at least 420 litres and small cars will be no longer permitted as taxis or hackneys by the Regulator.

The Regulator also announced a new category of wheelchair accessible hackney cars and said goods vehicles converted to wheelchair accessible vehicles will no longer be permitted.

Limousines will require a an engineer's report prior to licensing and further consultation with the industry regarding categories of limousines and age limit is needed, Taxi Regulation Kathleen Doyle said. All vehicles will also have to have safety equipment, including a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, advance warning triangle, and high visibility reflective vest, as well as a torch and a pen and paper.

"The primary aim of the new standards is to improve the quality of service, comfort and safety for all passengers and drivers," Ms Doyle said.

"Generally speaking, the existing SPSV fleet is of a high standard, however, it is essential that we ensure that everyone in the industry meets the same standards so that consumers can be confident of a consistent service nationwide."

There are 25,019 vehicles on the road operating as small public service vehicles (SPSVs). This includes 17,485 taxis, 1,464 wheelchair-accessible taxis, 4,759 hackneys and 1,311 Limousines.