The government has announced a consultation on plans to increase safety for taxi and minicab passengers and has also released a response to the DfT Review of taxi and private hire licensing.
In response, Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee said:
“Anything that improves the safety of passengers has to be a good thing.
“We need to prevent the likes of John Worboys from being able to operate as a legitimate licensed driver again and stop the worrying numbers of sexual assaults in minicabs.
“The big miss in the government response to the DfT Review is the statutory definition of plying for hire not being resolved. This has long been a major bone of contention and it appears to be too hard to resolve, so they aren’t going to try.
“The good news is that Transport for London will be given legislative powers to regulate pedicabs.
“The Transport Committee will publish its report into the taxi and private hire industry in March.”
Notes to editors
- Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
- London Assembly Transport Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.