For most taxi drivers, carrying a visually impaired person’s guide dog on board would be something of a no brainer. But for two drivers in Bristol it seems that they were in some doubt over the matter.
Khader Ahmed Sharif Abdi and Sheikh Omar Mohamed, both private hire drivers, were in court in November after they refused to carry Andrew Goddard’s guide dog, Sammy, with him in the car to a social occasion that he was attending in Bristol city centre. The 57-year old is registered blind and has said that he has previously had no problems in getting a taxi or the bus with Sammy.
“I don’t have any problem with my normal taxi firm, who are always happy to take my dog, and if it hadn’t been raining I would have got the bus,” Mr Goddard told the Bristol Post.
Mr Abdi and Mr Mohamed were charged for refusing to carry the dog under the 2010 equalities act. Part 12 of the act states that it is illegal for taxis or minicabs to refuse to carry a guide dog, except in case of a medical exemption from a GP. Abdi pleaded guilty to the charge and was conditionally discharged and required to contribute towards the costs of the prosecution. Mohamed was also found guilty and fined £340.
A case of simple ignorance of the law?
Goddard had first booked Abdi to pick him up from his house, but the driver refused. He then booked another taxi, that of Mohamed, who also refused. Both he and Sammy eventually arrived at the event when a third driver agreed to convey them.
Mr Goddard commented after the case that he was,”pleased that both drivers were prosecuted, and I hope that by highlighting this issue other people will not have to suffer.”
It is not clear on what grounds the drivers refused to carry the dog, but it is possible that ignorance of the rules was at least partly to blame. The case is a reminder of the need to keep up to date with current legislations, as well as ensuring that you have the correct taxi insurance for the type of vehicle that you drive.