1. The driver must at all times, when driving a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle:

a) Wear their drivers badge around their neck ensuring that the photograph and licence details are clearly visible
b) Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and appearance
c) Behave in a civil and orderly manner towards all persons, including, but not limited to, other road users, pedestrians, customers, the general public, other licensed operators and drivers, police officers, licensing officers and elected Members of the Council
d) Be courteous to all passengers e.g. greeting passengers, assisting with bags, push chairs, wheelchairs etc.
e) Take all reasonable steps to assist passengers when they are entering or alighting from the vehicle and convey them, subject to any restrictions given, to their destination by the shortest practicable route and to ensure their safety
f) When requested to do so by a passenger, convey a reasonable amount of luggage and afford reasonable assistance in the loading and unloading of any luggage
g) Be punctual and on time for bookings, unless delayed or prevented from doing so by some reasonable cause that is beyond the drivers control

2. The driver must not, at any time, when driving a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle:

a) Use offensive, racist, abusive, profane or insulting language or behaviour
b) Smoke or permit passengers to smoke in their vehicle (this includes the use of electronic cigarettes and vaporisers)
c) Use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving
d) Without the express permission of the hirer, eat or drink in the vehicle and only then in all cases whilst the vehicle is completely stationery
e) Cause or permit sound emitted from any radio or sound reproducing instrument or equipment in the vehicle to be an annoyance or nuisance to any person, whether they be inside or outside of the vehicle
f) Sound their vehicle’s horn to alert passengers as to the arrival of the vehicle
g) Permit persons other than the hirer to be carried in the vehicle unless they have the full consent from the person hiring the vehicle
h) Allow any person(s) to drive the vehicle unless they are authorised to do so by the proprietor, hold an appropriate Torbay Council dual drivers licence and are fully insured to do so
i) Obstruct other drivers or vehicles from undertaking their normal hiring and driving activities
j) Park, wait or leave a vehicle in a place/position that causes a nuisance or obstruction to other road users or to any member of the public.

This would include, but is not restricted to:

• Parking or waiting in designated resident only, disabled, or loading bays
• Overhanging of Taxi ranks
• Waiting/queuing on roundabouts, in box junctions (unless turning right) in bus stops or on yellow lines

Dress Code

The Licensing Authority is committed to encouraging the professional image of the trade and it considers that drivers should conform to a minimum standard of dress, as set out below, in order to:

• Raise and maintain the profile of the licensed trade
• Promote confidence amongst members of public to ensure passengers feel comfortable when using licensed vehicles
• Promote public safety by ensuring the safe operation of licensed vehicles at all times and that licensing drivers are readily identifiable

Acceptable Standards of Dress:

• The driver shall be clean and tidy in appearance
• Shirts, blouses, T-shirts, or sweat tops should cover the shoulders and be of sufficient length to enable them to be tucked into trousers or shorts
• Shirts or blouses can be worn with a tie or open-necked
• Trousers may be either full length or shorts if tailored
• Smart jeans type trousers are permitted
• Footwear should fit around the heel of feet
• Tailored hats which are used as part of a chauffeur service

Unacceptable standards of dress within this Code:

• Bare chests
• Unsuitable/Unclean or damaged clothing or footwear
• Clothing with offensive words, logos or graphics
• Swimming costumes
• Sleeveless vests or singlets
• Clothing with studs or sharp edges
• Any footwear that may compromise control of a vehicle, e.g. Flip Flops or open toe sandals
• Headwear (e.g. hats, scarves, hoodies, baseball caps) whilst within the vehicle, unless worn as part of a religious belief.
• Hooded garments (‘hoodies’)