Coach wheelchair refusal: National Express / Stotts of Huddersfield
Channel: Doug Paulley
Date: 2020-07-26

On 11 July 2018, the DVSA circulated a reminder to all scheduled coach providers:

"Coach operators will face tough action if they don’t comply with the law on the use of wheelchairs in vehicles, warned the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) today (11 July 2018).
The key requirements are:
• to ensure that wheelchair users can use available* wheelchair spaces, including those that require the removal, folding or tipping of other seats; and
• not to require passengers who use wheelchairs to book any further in advance than passengers who don’t.
Simply put, if a wheelchair space is available wheelchair users must be able to use it, even if they buy a ticket on the day. Coach operators should ensure all their staff – from drivers to ticketing and contact centre staff - know the law too."
"If the wheelchair space is available – including spaces where seats have to be removed, tipped or folded – coach companies must allow a wheelchair user to occupy it, even if they turn up and buy a ticket on the day."
This evidently didn't get through to this coach driver.