Taxi drivers across Bolton will be trained over the next few weeks to help keep people safe.

This comes after the government set out standards for taxi drivers two years ago that includes training on the signs of different types of abuse, human trafficking and disability awareness.

In Bolton, council cabinet member for regulatory services, Cllr Sue Haworth, said taxi drivers now have around 12 weeks left to take up the training for free before having to pay.

Cllr Haworth said: “The end of 2023 was the original cut off date for the free training, but in mid-2023, only around one third of Bolton taxi drivers had got through the training.

“Therefore, there is an extension for drivers to complete this free training until October 31 2024.

Cllr Sue Haworth with representatives of the taxi tradeCllr Sue Haworth with representatives of the taxi trade (Image: Public)

“There is still over twelve weeks to go to sign up and get the on-line training completed.”

The training was set out as part of the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards by the Department of Transport in July 2022.

The standards need all licensed drivers to complete safeguarding and disability awareness training.

This was included after the lobbying from disability groups who said that disabled people should reived more consideration when using public transport.

The training also includes topics like human trafficking, recognising types of abuse and best safeguarding practice to help protect vulnerable adults, children and young people.

It was approved for the roughly 1,500 taxi drivers in Bolton in July 2019 and by November the next year the council was looking at online training, given the Covid-19 restrictions in place.

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Since March 2022 there has been virtual online training available for Bolton taxi drivers and drivers were sent email reminders in 2022 and 2023.

The borough’s taxi trade representatives have also worked to remind drivers to take their training via WhatsApp messages.

Cllr Haworth said: “Drivers who are left untrained after October 31 2024, and who need to renew their licences, will need to both complete the mandatory training, and pay a charge for it.

“It is far better to take advantage of the free offer.

“Thanks go to the Bolton Taxi Trade representatives here who continue to encourage drivers to undertake this training and who were some of the first to complete this driver training offer here.”