UK Cities Enforce Tougher Taxi Safety, Emission Rules, Compliance Campaigns

Several UK cities are implementing or considering new regulations to make their taxi fleets safer and more environmentally friendly. Rochdale has extended the deadline for taxi and private hire vehicles to meet emissions standards to August 2030, aligning with Greater Manchester's Clean Air Plan and emphasizing Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol minimum standards. Stoke-on-Trent has approved stricter rules requiring enhanced background checks, CCTV installation, and quicker police notification for drivers, while mandating only electric and hybrid taxis be licensed by April 2031, with a gradual phase-out of petrol and diesel vehicles. Coventry is reconsidering its zero-emission taxi requirement and 15-year age limit on vehicles, pushing the emissions policy deadline to 2030 to avoid reducing the available taxi fleet and impacting contracts, especially for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Additionally, the UK government has launched a wide-ranging compliance campaign in London to crack down on unsafe and non-compliant vehicles, targeting mechanical faults and emission failures to improve road safety and reduce pollution. These efforts reflect a broader commitment across regions to balance environmental goals with practical concerns for the taxi trade and public safety.