Medical exemption from requirement to assist wheelchair passengers

Law and policy

1. Aberdeen City Council (ACC) requires: new taxi licences to operate accessible vehicles; It is also condition of taxi and private hire car drivers’ licences that drivers must give assistance to wheelchair users when exiting the vehicle.
2. Not all drivers of accessible vehicles will be physically fit enough to comply with their duties to carry and give assistance to wheelchair passengers, whilst remaining fit enough to carry out their other duties. A driver may apply for an exemption from giving assistance to wheelchair passengers.
3. Exemptions certificates are issued if it is appropriate to do so: (a) on medical grounds; or (b) on the ground that the driver’s physical condition makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for them to comply with those duties.
4. Exemptions are valid only for such period as is specified in the certificate. Decisions on the duration of an exemption will be taken on advice from the Licensing Committee’s nominated medical practitioners.

Procedure for obtaining exemption

1. In the circumstances detailed at 2 above the following procedure will apply:
2. the applicant will obtain a letter from their GP or Specialist detailing their reason(s) for applying in terms of 3 above
3. the applicant will submit the GP letter to the Licensing Team
4. The Licensing Team will make a referral to the ACC independent medical advisors who will then conduct a medical examination
5. They will provide a report on the applicant’s capability to undertake the duties in terms of their medical grounds/physical condition
6. If the report confirms that the applicant is unable to undertake the duties on the basis of: (a) medical grounds; or (b) on grounds of physical condition, officers of the Licensing Team will grant the exemption by delegated powers. If the report recommends the application be refused or is ambiguous in any way, the matter will be placed on the agenda of the next appropriate Licensing Committee.