Taxi Driver Suspended for Violating Equality Act Over Guide Dog

A taxi driver in Wiltshire has been suspended after refusing to transport a guide dog, violating legal requirements under the Equality Act 2010. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, with a taxi driver penalized for denying a guide dog passenger, highlighting ongoing concerns about accessibility compliance. Wiltshire Council’s taxi licensing team confirmed that two other drivers were also suspended in the past two weeks—one for using a mobile phone while driving and another for threatening a council officer.

A council spokesperson explained:

"Clear council guidelines prohibit discrimination against passengers with service dogs."

Last year, the council revised its taxi regulations to emphasize that refusing a guide dog is illegal. The change followed reports of a disabled resident in Chippenham being denied taxi service twice due to his service animal.

The council also reported a rise in new taxi driver applications, with numbers exceeding 900 for consecutive months—an occurrence not seen since April 2021. However, officials noted that taxi driver numbers might not return to pre-pandemic levels, citing shifts in high street activity and the county’s night-time economy.

Councillors were briefed on these developments at a recent licensing committee meeting in Trowbridge County Hall on 17 March, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.