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TfL: Assistance dogs are passengers too

Category: Disability (Learning/Mental/Physical), Staff Network Group

TfL: Assistance dogs are passengers too

TfL has launched a campaign to educate passengers with assistance dogs of their rights to travel in private hire vehicles.

Customers are being reminded that private hire drivers must allow their accredited assistance dogs to travel in the passenger compartment, and cannot refuse them or charge extra for their fare.

As well as educating customers, the campaign is also designed to inform drivers of their legal obligations. TfL will take action against private hire drivers who do not comply with the laws and has successfully prosecuted five drivers and three operators in the ast six months.

TfL's general manager of taxi and private hire Helen Chapman said: 'We are committed to making our services accessible to all our customers. This includes ensuring that our licensees are aware of their responsibilities regarding passengers who require the vital service that assistance dogs provide.

'The education campaign, along with the increased compliance activity we will be carrying out to support it, will make a real, positive difference to the way people can get around the capital.'

Deliver the message

Rob Harris, engagement manager for Guide Dogs London, welcomed the campaign: 'Being denied access to a taxi or private hire vehicle is not just illegal, but can knock the confidence of our guide dog owners and be deeply upsetting.

'With TfL's fantastic campaign, we can now make sure that message gets out to every single licensed driver so that there is no excuse and that guide dog owners are entitled to the same freedom of movement as everyone else.'

  • More than 7,000 people are assisted by dogs that are trained and accredited by the seven charities that form the Assistance Dogs UK organisation.
  • As well as Guide Dogs, there are Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Medical Detection Dogs for people with complex health issues and Dogs for Good, which assist people with physical disabilities and children with autism.

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