Alan Matthews Public Carriage Office London, England

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Alan MatthewsPublic Carriage OfficeLondon,
England
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Developing Inspection Thresholds

• Private Hire Vehicle Inspections (Standards)
• Reasons for change
• Process for change
• Implementation

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PHV Inspections (Standards) - Present State

• Business profile
• 2,300 licensed operators (from Jan 2001)
• 22,000 licensed drivers (36,000 by mid 2006)
• 37,000 licensed vehicles (from April 2004)
• Licensing of vehicles (service delivery)
• subject to annual licensing inspection
• private sector service provider (SGS UK Ltd)
• 4 inspection centres located in Greater London
• PCO define regulations and licensing standards

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Vehicle Licensing Standards

• (1) PHV (London) Act 1998
• vehicles have to be safe, comfortable and fit for
  the purposes of carrying passengers
• (2) PHV Regulations 2004
• define safe, comfortable and fit for purpose

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Definitions of safe, comfortable and fit
for purpose

• Definitions include
• 4 road wheels
• satisfy Vehicle Type Approval
• construction and use
• insurance, road tax, DVLA registration
• evidence of roadworthiness (UK Mot)
• no external advertising or signage

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Proposed Changes

• Remove prohibition on external advertising or
  signage (within limitations)

Disc
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Proposed Changes

• Remove prohibition on external advertising or
  signage (within limitations)

• Include roadworthiness / mechanical inspection as
  part of licensing inspection

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Process for Change (1)

• Public consultation
• explain present state
• justification for change
• explain proposals
• potential costs / achievable
• regulatory impact assessment
• 12 week consultation period

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Process for Change (2)

• Guiding principles
• TfL consultation policy
• DfT advice on best practice for regulators
• better regulations Task Force Group
• research / evidence

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Implementation

• Assess public consultation results
• Publish responses and decisions taken
• Draft amended regulations
• Obtain formal TfL approval
• Consult stakeholders / service providers
• Plan, develop and implement changes
• Advertising / signage (3 months from decision)
• Mechanical inspections (12 months from decision)

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The Five Principles of Good Regulation (1)

• Proportionality
• regulators should only intervene when necessary.
  Remedies should be appropriate to the risk posed
  and costs identified and minimised.
• Accountability
• regulators must be able to justify decisions and
  be subject to public scrutiny.
• Consistency
• government rules and standards must be joined up
  and implemented fairly.
• Transparency
• regulators should be open and keep regulations
  simple and user - friendly
• Targeting
• regulation should be focused on the problem and
  minimise side effects.

(1) source Better regulations task force group
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Reference Material

• Private Hire Act and associated regulation
• www.tfl.gov.uk/pco
• TfL Consultation Policy
• www.tfl.gov.uk
• Better Regulations Task Force
• Regulation - Less is More, Reducing Burdens,
  Improving Outcomes
• www.brtf.gov.uk