Taxi drivers in Dundee have hit out at “dog’s dinner” health and safety rules that ban everyday items from being stored inside cabs.
Under new regulations, passengers must store everything from walking sticks to groceries in the boots of taxis, whereas before they had been able to keep all their belongings with them.
The regulations, part of new training being given to new cab drivers in the city, has angered taxi operators, including Willie Lees, secretary of the GMB Dundee WAV (wheelchair-accessible vehicles) Taxi branch.
He said: “It’s just a complete dog’s dinner. If you are infirm and you need a walking stick, how are you supposed to get out the car if it is not with you?
“We aren’t allowed to help them out because we’re not allowed to touch them.”
He added: “There are something like 22 different types of taxi cab in Dundee, so there’s a lot of contradiction in what they are teaching drivers.
“The drivers are responsible for children under the age of 14. Whether the purpose-built taxis are included in this, I don’t know.
“Nobody knows exactly what’s going on here.”
Union chiefs also claim only a small proportion of drivers in Dundee have undertaken the course to learn the new guidelines and, while new drivers will be required to take it, the course is not mandatory for current drivers.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “The licensing committee were aware the GMB had raised issues about the wheelchair section of the training.
“That is why the committee held an investigation into that part of the course and were satisfied it represented an appropriate level of training.
“The course has to be completed by taxi drivers to allow them to renew their licence in May 2017.
“Any concerns can be raised by the taxi trade through the taxi liaison group.”