Wiltshire Taxi Drivers Suspended for Violating Passenger Rights

Three taxi drivers in Wiltshire have had their licences suspended in the past two weeks following serious breaches of regulations, Wiltshire Council’s licensing committee confirmed on Monday, March 17.

The suspensions resulted from separate incidents, including mobile phone use while driving, threatening a council officer, and refusing to transport a guide dog. Similar enforcement actions have been observed elsewhere, as seen in Southampton's ongoing taxi crisis, where multiple drivers have lost their licences over the past two years due to regulatory breaches.

One of the cases involved a driver who declined to carry a guide dog, directly violating the Equality Act 2010, which mandates that taxis must accommodate assistance dogs. Wiltshire Council had previously revised its taxi guidelines to reinforce this legal requirement after past incidents.

A council spokesperson commented:

"We have made it absolutely clear that refusing to transport guide dogs is illegal."

The committee also reported that the number of licensed taxi drivers in Wiltshire has exceeded 900 for consecutive months, marking the first time since April 2021. However, officials noted that pre-pandemic levels might not return due to shifts in customer demand.