To support authorities in considering this, this note signposts councils to relevant general guidance, as well sharing approaches taken by authorities which have taken a position on the use of screens.
Councils have been receiving queries from taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers and operators about the use of temporary screens or partitions as a way of providing physical separation between drivers and passengers in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
Whilst we have asked the Department for Transport to give licensing authorities a clear steer on the installation of screens to support consistency, in the absence of this, it will remain a decision for individual licensing authorities and local operators.
However, there is currently limited evidence about the effectiveness of temporary screens in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19. There is also a lack of clarity about the safety of fitting these types of screens in vehicles. This has created a challenge for authorities who are being asked to approve the fitting of screens.
- Published by:
- Reference code: