People with disabilities in South Derbyshire will now be protected by a new law ensuring equal treatment, the same as able-bodied passengers, by taxi drivers.

South Derbyshire District Council has released an inventory of wheelchair accessible taxi ranks in the area as part of the new equality law.

The new law asked councils to create lists of local wheelchair-accessible taxis, known as Section 167 lists, by the deadline of October this year.

Section 165 and 167 of the Equality Act, introduced in April this year, means taxi drivers who are placed on those lists could lose their licence or face fines of up to £1,000 if they refuse to transport wheelchair users or attempt to charge them extra for their journey.

The move aims to prevent discrimination against wheelchair users by private hire drivers.

A South Derbyshire District Council spokesman said: “As a licensing authority we are committed to protecting the public by ensuring that licensed vehicles are safe, comfortable, properly insured and available.

"In line with changes to the Equality Act, we have published our list of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles in South Derbyshire on our website this week.

"The drivers of these vehicles have been fully consulted and have certain duties placed on them in relation to wheelchair users. Failure to comply with them is an offence."

The current list of wheelchair accessible vehicles licensed by the South Derbyshire licensing authority can be seen below:

  • Registration number: EX11 GTZ
    Make: Citroen
    Model: Dispatch
    Operator: Swad Cars
  • Registration number: RO59 ZSL
    Make: Fiat
    Model: Doblo
    Operator: Swad Cars/Abbey Cars
  • Registration number: SD09 ZHT
    Make: Renault
    Model: Traffic
    Operator: Alpha 25 Cars
  • Registration number: LS08 JUO
    Make: Vauxhall
    Model: Vivaro
    Operator: Safe Cars/Swad Cars
  • Registration number: KU10 AHE
    Make: Peugeot
    Model: Expert
    Operator: Alpha 25 Cars
  • Registration number: YR58 XXL
    Make: Fiat
    Model: Scudo
    Operator: Alpha 25 Cars
  • Registration number: YY57 DPO
    Make: Fiat
    Model: Doblo
    Operator: Swad Cars
  • Registration number: NJ58 VZY
    Make: Ford
    Model: Transit
    Operator: Keith's Private Hire

The full list can be found here.