Introducing the Safe Taxi Charter
Introducing the Safe Taxi Charter
When it comes to business and leisure travel, the green shoots of recovery are beginning to show – and now people have a choice to make about the method of transportation they’re comfortable using. The government recommendation is to avoid public transport, and this is a huge opportunity for the private hire industry to step up and be that alternative.
The objective of the Safe Taxi Charter is to show the public, decision-makers, demand-generators and employers that we offer the safe choice when it comes to choosing how to travel.
What is the Safe Taxi Charter?
The Safe Taxi Charter is a promise by the UK Private Hire Taxi and Mini-Cab industry to adhere to the very highest standards of sanitisation.
Signatories pledge to do everything they can operationally to protect their customers, and their drivers, to create and maintain a safe environment.
Crucially, it’s a voluntary scheme, a Charter created by the trade, for the trade, that says we take safety seriously.
Every firm signing up to the Charter will deliver the following procedures, implemented at all times by staff and drivers:
The Safe Taxi Charter
Social Distancing guidelines will be followed by the Driver.
Drivers will have no physical contact with the passenger. (Unless in an emergency situation or if a passenger requests assistance)
Hand sanitisers will be provided to all drivers and customers. Drivers will sanitise their hands regularly.
Option to pay by card through the app, to avoid drivers and passengers using cash.
Vehicles which have a shield installed will be regularly cleaned and sanitised.
Drivers will wear clean clothes each day, be well-presented and maintain impeccable personal hygiene.
Drivers will be provided with masks to wear at all time when working.
The Passenger area of the vehicle will be wiped down and cleaned with sanitiser regularly.
The Driver will conduct a weekly inspection and deep clean of their vehicle.
Signage to be displayed, (where available and where licensing permits) to convey safety and sanitation messages in and out of vehicle.
Why do we need a Safe Taxi Charter?
Many operators have already implemented many of these protocols anyway, but what the Charter does is help tell everyone about it. Being safe is only half the battle, the Charter will help to change public perception about taxi. Whilst the Charter came to fruition because the Coronavirus pandemic, safety will be a differentiator for many years to come – firms showing their commitment will stand out and thrive in the ‘new normal’.
How do I get involved?
If you would like more background on the initiative, please check out our ‘Operating in the New Normal’ Webinar.
To get involved firms need to sign up to the Safe Taxi Charter here.
We will send through creative for you to use in your offices and cars – posters outlining the Charter, stickers to show your firm has signed up, and material you can use in your own online marketing and social media.
Further down the line we will create an online database, so that the public and decision-makers can find out which firms in their local area are signed up to the Charter, we think this will become a key differentiator when passengers, especially corporates, are choosing which firms to work with.
The key to success is participation, from everyone in the industry.
This has the potential to become absolutely huge. As a unified industry we can achieve great things together.