Your rights - motoring and transport
Disability discrimination law gives people with disabilities rights of access for motoring, transport and travel infrastructure, such as railway stations, airports and travel agents.
Public transport
Laws are designed to protect the rights of people with a disability to access public transport services (including taxis).
These regulations also mean that you have a right to access information about transport, for example timetables, in a format that is accessible to you where it is reasonable for the transport provider to give it in that format.
Legal protection against transport discrimination
Regulations make it unlawful for transport providers to treat people with disabilities less favourably than those without a disability.
Transport providers include those who run:
- trains
- buses
- coaches
- taxis
- rental vehicles
and
- breakdown recovery vehicles
Transport providers need to make reasonable adjustments to their policies, procedures and practices to make sure people with disabilities do not find it impossible or unreasonably difficult to access their services.
The extent to which the duties apply depends on the type of vehicle used.
- The Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations (NI) 2009
- Explanatory Memorandum about the regulations
The Equality Commission of Northern Ireland has developed a code of practice and short guides for transport providers about rights and responsibilities under the regulations. These are available from the following link:
Buses and coaches
Since December 2000, new buses and coaches that are used on local and scheduled services and can transport more than 22 passengers have had to meet Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations.
Trains
Since December 1998, all new rail vehicles must meet Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations.
Motoring
Learning to drive
The usual minimum age for driving cars is 17. For anyone who is getting Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments at the higher rate (mobility part), the minimum age for driving is 16.
Insurance
Insurers can only charge people with disabilities higher premiums if:
- the extra charge is based on factual or statistical data
or
- if there are other relevant factors which suggest that a person with disabilities is a higher risk
Inclusive Mobility Transport Advisory Committee
The Inclusive Mobility Transport Advisory Committee (Imtac) advises government and others in Northern Ireland on issues that affect the mobility of deaf people, disabled people and older people.
Help and advice from the Equality Commission
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is a good source of advice if you feel you may have been discriminated against by a service provider.
Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland protects and promotes the interests of all passengers travelling to, from or within Northern Ireland.
It helps individual passengers with their transport complaints and also works with transport providers to help stop complaints arising in the first place.