Do I need to wear a face mask in a taxi?
The requirement to wear masks in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles (PHV)
The Government announced that face coverings will be mandatory on all forms of public transport from 15 June.
Hackney carriage and PHV’s are not included in Department for Transport regulations that make it mandatory for public transport staff and passengers to wear face coverings, mainly because hackney carriages and PHV's are not classed as public transport, suggesting the requirement to wear face coverings in hackney carriages and PHV’s is therefore not mandatory.
It is ultimately up to taxi drivers and operators to assess the risk to their environment and to put protective measures in place to safeguard themselves and their passengers.
The general Government advice is for people to wear face coverings in an enclosed space where social distancing is hard to maintain, and where we come into contact with people we do not normally meet, which clearly applies to hackney carriages and PHVs.
Whilst it is not mandatory for drivers to wear a face cover, taxi and private hire drivers are advised they should wear a face covering and should also require their customers to do so at all times when in a taxi or private hire vehicle.
